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Ch. 7: Garnet

Ch. 7: Garnet Page of 149 Ch. 7: Garnet Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
GARNET.
83
be said concerning them, that they do not accord exactly with the garnet formula, and that the state of oxidation of the three metals, iron, manganese and chromium—has not been ascertained with complete accuracy.
Pyrope is well known through the roughly faceted beads cut from this garnet and through the cheap Bohemian jewellery where it figures as the chief stone. Choice specimens are worthy of better cutting and better settings.
4.—Spessartite or Manganese Garnet.—As a rule this variety of garnet does not occur in a sufficiently clear state to allow of gem-stones being cut from it. Some considerable quantities, however from Amelia Court House, Virginia. U.S.A., have been cut and polished. Some of the very small aurora-red spessartites from Nevada have yielded brilliant gems, but, at present, the very finest specimens, extremely lustrous and of a magnificent aurora-red or flame-colour, are found in one or two localities in Ceylon. These resemble cinnamon stone and have been sold as very choice speci­mens of that kind of garnet, but they are incomparably more beau­tiful. They are easily distinguished from hessonite by their higher specific gravity which is 4.14, instead of 3.66. A step-cut spes­sartite from Ceylon in the author's possession weighscarats, having lost 2 carats by re-cutting in London, but with a most marked improvement in the appearance of the gem. Very few of these stones have been found ; they bring £2. or £3. per carat when of fair size, that is above 2 or 3 carats in weight.
5.—Rhodolite.—This beautiful variety of garnet is of a rose-red colour somewhat verging on purple. It is more brilliant and less deep in tone than almandine and pyrope, while it partakes of the chemical constitution of both of these stones. It shows, though somewhat faintly, the system of black absorption-bands which is characteristic of almandine. Its specific gravity is 3.84, a figure much nearer that of pyrope than that of almandine. Rhodolite occurs at Cowie's Creek and Mason's Branch in Macon County,
S445.                                                                                                       y 2
Ch. 7: Garnet Page of 149 Ch. 7: Garnet
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