Garnets

Garnets are a group of silicate minerals that have been used since the Bronze Age as gemstones and abrasives. All species of garnets poseiss similar physical properties and crystal forms, but differ in chemical composition. The different species are pyrope, almandine, spessartine, grossular (hessonite or tsavorite), uvarovite and andradite. Colors range from red, orange, yellow, green, purple, brown, blue, black, pink and colorless. Garnet has a hardness of 6.5-7 and is found in Madagascar, in parts of the US, Russia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Turkey. It is the birthstone of January.