Garnet, origin, characteristics, properties, uses and more

One of the gemstones best known by many people in the world is the Garnet. On this occasion Spiritual energy, it will describe everything related to it.

Garnet

Garnet

Garnet is usually a name used to describe a certain group of silica minerals. It is important that you know that silica is a form of inorganic silicon (metalloid chemical element), also known as silicon oxide, because it is made up of silicon and oxygen.

Garnet is also often known as a precious stone, in fact its abrasive origin makes it an ideal element to be applied in the industrial sector. Because of this, it is important to note that only part of it is suitable for use as a gemstone.

This is because it has been used since the Bronze Age (the prehistoric period in which bronze metallurgy evolved, resulting from copper with tin) as a gemstone, as well as an abrasive.

Since the year 1912, this is considered to be the birthstone of people who are born in the month of January. It is also known as the mineral of the state of Connecticut and the precious stone of New York, in the United States.

Garnet has been so important throughout history that according to various texts, a large part of the Egyptians were buried with jewels made with inlays of this mineral, so that they could have them in their afterlife.

In the same way, it was also used for commercial purposes in Rome, as well as in seal-type rings to originate wax ones, in order to guarantee very relevant documents.

According to some ancient stories and legends, especially those that occurred in medieval times, this mineral was considered to be the protector of negative dreams. While the Greeks gave it as a symbol of love.

History

As mentioned above, over many years and in various cultures, garnet has played a very important role. Well, in addition to being known as a precious stone, it is also considered one of the most important minerals.

That is why the presence of this precious stone is very prominent in Greek mythology, as well as in various texts. However, in the tradition of Muslim and Hebrew origin it is mostly known for its luminosity.

For many centuries, it was carved and worked as a precious stone. In the case of the Vikings, they used to use them in jewelry as funerary decorations. But the Crusaders used this stone to decorate their armor and gain more courage during battles.

In addition to that, it was a very prominent stone throughout the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries on the European continent, especially during the Victorian era, as it was constantly used in jewelry. Also learn about the surgical steel.

From

This can be located throughout the world as a metamorphic, igneous and sedimentary rock. A large part of them originate in areas where there is heat or where there is very high pressure, since this raises the composition of the mineral structure to one that is adapted so that it can be supported in the environment where it is found.

These begin as tiny grains that develop over time to include the adjacent rock, which is why they are usually found as an accessory mineral in certain types of igneous rock. As is the case with the dark red crystals that stand out on the countertops made of granite.

The mining procedure of garnet extraction from the earth can be diverse. In the case of open pit mining, it is common to locate strong rocks, as in hand mining, depending on where the mine is located. While the extraction of the alluvial deposits is carried out, using backhoes and drag lines.

Once the ore is extracted from the mine, it is released from the fraction by reducing its size, using machines such as jaw, impact or cone crushers. As well as rod and ball mills, everything depends on the deposit.

Frequently, the released garnet is separated from gangue minerals through gravity concentration methods. As well as with the flotation foam. To then go through the drying process, classify your concentrate, divide the particles into the various market sizes and store them to start being distributed.

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There are various garnets that change their color depending on the lighting in which they are observed. An example of this is when you see one color under natural light and when you look at it under incandescent light, it will look a very different color.

However, most people usually associate it with a red gemstone. This is because the origin of the garnet name comes from the term gernet, which is an English word that was used in the XNUMXth century and means the color Deep Red. Another derivation of this ends, comes from the Latin granatus, which means grain seed and refers to the appearance and color of some of its types.

Although red is the most common color to distinguish this mineral, there are different colors, since they can be gray, brown, black, white or even colorless. Other colors in which they can be found are yellow, green, pink, red, purplish, red-orange and red-violet.

The family of this mineral is one of the most extensive and complicated in the context of gems. Well, it has various species, which are not found in a pure state, so they join with other types of the same mineral. For this reason, some of these mixtures have very different characteristics, but retain their crystalline structure and properties.

It should be noted that at the end of the 90th century, it was considered that there were garnets of all colors except blue. However, an expedition in Madagascar in the mid-XNUMXs managed to show that garnets changed from blue-green to bluish-green when exposed to sunlight. It did the same thing when they were under incandescent light, but they changed to purple.

Much of the garnet is mined and is often used in sandpaper, sandblasting, and water filtration. That is why, in addition to being a mineral, the garnet terminology also describes a set of silica minerals with a hardness of an estimated 7 on the Mohs scale.

Hence, the most common are the Almandine, which has a red or brown color, the Pyrope with a red to purple color, the Spessartine with an orange to red or brown color, the Andradite characterized by having a green, yellow or black color, the Grossular of green, yellow, red, pink or limpid color and the Uvarovite of green color.

Other types

In addition to those mentioned above, there are also other types of garnet:

  • Little boiler.
  • Majorite.
  • Goldmanite.
  • Kimzeyite.
  • Knorringite.
  • Katoite.
  • Morimotoite.
  • Schorlomite.
  • Hibschite.
  • Hydrogrossular.

It is important to keep in mind that each of the types of garnet mentioned above have a different chemical composition that indicates their color. There may be garnets made up of calcium which have a darker green colour, but there may also be garnets made up of aluminium, iron or manganese with a redder colour.

Due to this, the various species of this mineral that are mostly located are yellow, green, brown, among others. Highlighting in the most important jewels the dark red color.

It should be noted that this dark red color is known as maroon color, because it is the most used term to refer to similar colors. Which can be purple, thus naming the color that predominates in the common garnet and others, such as the bohemian.

Features

The chemical composition is what has made it possible for this mineral to be found in a wide variety of colors. This is due to the fact that elements such as silicate, aluminum and magnesium may be present at certain times while its development occurs. Therefore, its hardness can vary between 6,5 to 7,5 according to the Mohs scale.

light transmission properties

Due to their light transmission properties, they can be used as gems. This is also due to the fact that its shine is resinous or transparent, since its chemical composition goes through a variation process, since depending on the species, the atomic bonds can be stronger. One of these more compact species is the almandine.

geological importance

These minerals are essential for interpreting the origin of a wide variety of igneous and metamorphic rocks. This is done through volcanic geothermobarometry, which encompasses the measurement of temperatures and pressures in the magma.

That is why the expansion of elements is very slow in garnets compared to other minerals, and this mineral can also resist alteration. Because of that, the ones found alone usually protect the compositional zonation that is used to make an interpretation of the time and temperature in which they developed.

However, the grains of this mineral that lack compositional zoning are usually interpreted as a homogenization by diffusion, which encompasses a series of interventions in the passage of time and rock temperature. Also know about the Cat Eye.

Use

It is often used in jewelry, due to its colors and brightness, which makes it one of the most striking accessories. However, it also has a series of uses, related to various important elements of life.

When used for jewelry, those that are clear, as well as those with strong colors, are used as semi-precious stones, which, depending on the type, are given fixed denominations. Among these, the demantoid stands out, which is a derivation of andradite with a green color.

On the other hand, those known as gems such as piropo, have been popular in central Europe for a long time. The clear almandine class, on the other hand, is also used as a gem.

It is important to note that garnets are also abrasive, due to their hardness, which is stronger than quartz.

It is also a stone that is used for health, as it is given a function to transform the negative energies of the chakras into positive energies. There are those who also often use it to cleanse the organs, the blood and reduce the toxins that are located in the body.

In the same way, it can be used to transmit calm and protection for the body. It is even used to fortify the survival instinct, as well as increase those related to having courage and hope.

It can also be used for greater balance, love and tranquility in couples and families. In addition to that, it is considered a lucky stone, because it can attract love and also prosperity for business.

physical healing

It is also considered that this stone has properties in the field of medicine, as it supports the faster healing of wounds. It also grants the regeneration of the body and the stimulation of metabolism.

It is often used in the treatment of spinal and cellular disorders, regeneration of DNA, relief of acne, reduction of cardiac elevations, and it makes it possible for the body to absorb all kinds of vitamins.

emotional healing

From an emotional point of view, this stone is often used to provide protection and stable vitality, so it can also serve as a natural calming. With it you can also treat emotional problems, balance energies through the stimulation of desires and raise the attitude.

You can place it under the pillow, to relieve nightmares. It even helps to recover the spirit, calm emotional pain, sadness and prevent insecurities. They can also be used to increase popularity and positivity, thereby improving self-esteem.

Garnet

stone cleaning

Cleaning is very careful and easy, as its chemical composition is very varied, which makes it sensitive to heat. Well, it is best to place it in a glass container to which a considerable portion of sea salt is added and leave it there for several days. It is then removed from the container, cleaned and dried very well.

In order to activate the stone, it must be exposed to the light of the full moon during the night, and the next day it can be used. If you were interested in the information in this article, you may be interested in knowing everything related to ¿how to know if it is white gold?


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