The birthstone for January is the garnet.
The name garnet is derived from the Latin word granatum
(pomegranate); this alludes to the garnet's color and seed-like crystal
formation. There are many forms of garnet. Some are: pyrope, rhodolite,
almadine, and grossular (or tsavorite).
Garnet has been treasured for thousands of years. This lovely red stone
was once thought to cure fever and promote good health. Garnet was warn
for protection when traveling. It is said that Asiatic tribes once used
garnets in place of bullets during battle--they believed these blood-red
stones to be more deadly than a lead bullet. Over the years, this vibrant
gemstone has symbolized many things to many people: fire, truth, grace,
constancy, and fidelity.
Mohs hardness: 6.5-7.5
Refractive Index: 1.714-1.895
Specific Gravity: 3.5-4.3
The toughness of garnets is good. Garnet may be cleaned by using jewelry
cleaners, mild soap, or an untreated cloth. However, steaming, ultrasonic,
and boiling garnet is not recommended!
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The name pyrope comes from the Greek pyropos (fire-like).
Its red color is due to the presence of chrome.
Origin: A major source for the pyrope garnet is Arizona.
Color: Blood red
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The almandine-pyrope garnet is a fine quality garnet mined from an alluvial
gravel layer at the Garnet Queen Mine in northern Idaho. Its beautiful
color rivals the brilliant garnets found years ago in Bohemia, Czechoslovakia,
and Russia's Ural Mountains. Idaho's Queensland Garnet is known not only
for its color and brilliance, but also for its large size and purity.
Origin: A major source for the almandine-pyrope garnet is the Garnet Queen
Mine, northern Idaho.
Color: Deep blood red
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The rhodolite garnet gets its name from the Greek rhodo (rose) and
litho (stone).
Color: Rose to lavender
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The popular almandine garnet gets its name from the Latin carbunculus
alabandicus; carbunculus means "small coal," and alabandicus
refers to the city Alabanda, an ancient garnet source in Asia Minor
(Turkey).
Color: Deep orange-red to brown-red
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The lush green tsavorite is a bright, vivid variety of grossular garnet.
Tsavorite is rare in large, finished pieces. The rough stone exists in
small, shallow pockets throughout the terrain. Its lovely green color is
attributed to chromium and vanadium, trace elements in its composition.
Tsavorite was first discovered recently in Tanzania, East Africa; then,
a few years later, it was found again in neighboring Kenya. Named for the
Tsavo River and the Tsavo National Park near its deposits in Africa, tsavorite
was brought into the American limelight in the mid 1970's by Tiffany &
Co., who renamed it tsavolite" for their promotional purposes.
Origin: Tanzania and Kenya
Color: Brilliant green
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