Locations of Garnet mines and sources and descriptions of samples from each.
This Geology and Geography section will help you find the locations of mines and sources of Quartz and other minerals, gemstones, semi-precious stones, metals and other natural resources. From the Brazilian Mining phenomenon to other locations of World mining locations for Global Resources for mineral deposits, mineral mines and Gold mines.
Many times garnet is mistakenly thought of as a single gem when in reality it is actually a family of gems that range in colors of every shade with the exception of blue. Garnets can be found all over the world and some members of the garnet family are exclusive to the area from which they come. The most common type of garnet, a deep highly saturated red, has, throughout time, also been mistaken for ruby. Some garnet has been found in the streams where metamorphic rock has eroded and left crystals for collection. Among some of the garnet sources are Latin America, Africa, India, Australia, Asia and some parts of Europe.
Garnet
in the U.S.A. (United States of America)
Garnets are found in the U.S. in Arizona and largely in Idaho. The
Garnet Queen Mine in Idaho produces a highly saturated dark red almandine/pyrope
garnet. Arizona is a pyrope garnet ranging in color and clarity from fiery
red to reddish lavander. Other states that have notable occurrences of
garnet include: New Mexico, Utah, Arkansas and Kentucky.
African
Garnet
Many members, old and newly discovered have come from Africa. A
grossular garnet named Tsavorite is found in Kenya around the Tsavo
National Park area. It is also said to be found in East Africa in Tanzania
from which it was imported into the United States by Tiffany and Company.
Tavorite comes in shades of green mainly because of it's chromium and
vanadium composition and has, at times, been mistaken for emeralds for
this reason. Malaya garnet, an orange to saturated yellow, also has
deposits in Tanzania and Kenya. Mandarin, another orange garnet of the
spessartite class, is found in Namibia along with Andradites. Another rare
form of garnet found in Africa is the Imperial garnet, which of the
grossular classification. Other garnets ranging in color from browns and
yellows to greens as in African Jade found in parts of South Africa.
Other sources for garnets reside in Zimbabwe and Mozambique (produces a
medium pink to muave/purple garnet, a combination of pyrope and almandite).
European
Garnets
Spessartite is one of the most common forms of garnet found in Europe.
The main spessartite deposits are located in a garnet mining district in
Bavaria, Germany. The name "spessartite" comes from the name of
the mining district Spessart from which the central deposit of this
variation of garnet is found. There are also notable garnet deposits in
Spain and Czechoslovakia.
Garnet
and Sri Lanka
Both Hessionite and Rhodolite garnet come from Sri Lanka. The
hessionite garnet from this region varies in color from a brilliant yellow
to yellowish brown. Rhodolite mines in Sri Lanka have produced garnet in
shades of pink through reddish lavander. Sri Lanka is also home to some
Imperial garnets.
Garnet
in Russia
The Ural Mountains in Russia are the main site for garnet
deposits. Forms of garnet similar to Andradite (of the demantoid
structure) are found in shades of green and are rare due to their
proximity in structure to diamonds. The member Uvaroite, was discovered in
Russia and was named for a Russian nobleman (a count) by the name of
Sergei Uvarov. This green-colored garnet occurs in fine crystal clusters
that are not often of the proper size to be faceted.
Other
Notable Deposits of Garnet Around the World
Garnet can also be found in South America. Adradite, mined in Brazil,
is named for a South American minerologist named J.B. D'Andrada. Argentina
is another source in South America. Other deposits are located in India,
Madagascar, Bohemia, Switzerland, Scotland, Asia, Saxony, Canada,
Pakistan, Burma and Mexico.
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