The Garnet, Carbuncle, and Cinnamon Stone. 261
and
kernel of the pomegranate, a fruit of Southern Europe. It is not a name
of ancient date. Pliny calls it " Car-bunculus," from Carbo, a live coal. According to some authorities, however, it is thought that the origin of the word Garnet is to be found in Granum, " a
grain," because it is so often found in granular forms. The Precious
Garnet is sometimes called " Almandine," from the city of Alabanda, in
Caria. Its colour is blood-red, cherry-red, or brownish-red : by
candle-light it assumes a violet tint.
Garnet is almost world-wide in its distribution.
A
new variety of Garnet, closely resembling the Burmese Ruby in colour,
was found a few years ago under very difficult circumstances, in the
interior of New Mexico. Lapidaries were at first unable to determine,
by mere cutting, the nature of this stone. A specimen was accordingly
sent to Sir W. Crookes, F.R.S., who, by analysis found that it
contained as much as 42 per cent, of Alumina.
Fine
Garnets have been found abundantly in the MacDonnel Ranges in the
interior of South Australia, and have been sometimes termed "
Australian Rubies.''
The principal varieties recognised by mineralogists are the Almandine, or Precious Garnet ; the Essonite, or " Jacinth " and " Hyacinth ;" the Pyrope, or Bohemian blood-red Garnet, the Uwarowite, or chrome Garnet and the Demantoid, or green Garnet. Each of these will now be separately described.
