The garnet most valued as a gem is termed almandite, and
is of a rich cherry, claret, or blood-red color. These stones were
first mined near the city of Alabanda, in Asia Minor, and the same
source was much exploited by the Romans in their day. The stones are
still known as Syrian garnets. This same mineral occurs in
large quantities near the mouth of the Stickeen River, Alaska, but is
not of sifficient transparency to be greatly used as a gem.
Another variety, and probably the most numerous one of the garnet mineral, is known as pyrope. It does not vary much in color from almandite. The
mineral is almost always found in eruptive or volcanic rocks, and is a
constituent of the diamond-bearing blueground of South Africa. From
this fact the finer specimens of the gem are termed in the trade cape rubies.
The
home of the pyrope is, however, Bohemia. Although the stones were known
in this region for centuries it was not until after Karlsbad had become
an international center that interest was taken in the scientific
mining and polishing of the gems. Since then the fame of these garnets
and their usefulness in the arts when not of sufficient fineness for
jewels has led to a thorough exploitation of the field, and Bohemia
