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Garnet, often thought of by laypeople as a single mineral of a deep red color, occurs in many colors and has a number of varietal names depending on color and composition. Examples include almandite, pyrope, rhodolite, grossular, uvarovite, spessartine, andradite, and demantoid. The latter is the most expensive kind of garnet, usually more expensive than emerald. Class: semiprecious Origin of Name: probably from Latin granatum (pomegranate), presumably for similarity in color between the gem and the fruit Color: red, orange, yellow, green, clear Chemical Composition: magnesium, iron, or calcium aluminum silicates Crystal System: cubic Hardness: 6.5-7.5 Specific Gravity: 3.58-4.32 Geographic Origins: numerous sources worldwide Next Photo: ©International Colored Gemstone Association/Bart Curren The Science Behind the Sparkle | Diamonds in the Sky A Primer of Gemstones | See Inside a Diamond Resources | Transcript | Site Map | Diamond Deception Home Editor's Picks | Previous Sites | Join Us/E-mail | TV/Web Schedule About NOVA | Teachers | Site Map | Shop | Jobs | Search | To print PBS Online | NOVA Online | WGBH © | Updated November 2000 |
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