Garnet

Brian Hadaway

=Garnet= Garnet’s name come form the Latin word meaning Granatus. It means grain, and it is also the Birthstone for the month of January. People usually thought that there is only one variety, which is red. Garnet actually represents 10+ different gemstones that have similar chemical compositions.

Garnet is made up of three calcium, two aluminum, three silicon, and twelve oxygen atoms. The oxygen atoms are bonded to two calcium, one silicon, and one aluminum atom. The silicon atoms are bonded to four oxygen atoms called tetrahedral. The aluminum atoms are bonded to six oxygen atoms called octahedral. The calcium atoms are bonded to eight oxygen atoms called a distorted cube. Information from [|**//http://www.ehow.com/about_5426960_crystal-structure-garnet.html//**]

Hardness ranges from 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. Information from [|**//http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/earthsci/imagearchive/garnet.htm//**]

Garnet comes in many colors but blue, some examples are green, greenish brown, greenish yellow, orange yellow, grey or black. Some are able to change color in incandescent light. Information from [|**//http://www.ehow.com/about_5426960_crystal-structure-garnet.html//**]

Its luster is vitreous to resinous. Info from [|**//http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/earthsci/imagearchive/garnet.htm//**]

When tested it leaves a white streak. Info from [|**//http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/earthsci/imagearchive/garnet.htm//**]

Garnet’s density is 140-lb/ ft cubed. Info from [|**//http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_density_of_garnet//**]

Garnet’s crystal structure is isometric. Info from [|**//http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/226081/garnet/80089/Crystal-structure//**]

Garnet’s cleavage is indistinct but its fracture is conchoidal to uneven. Info from [|**//http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garnet//**]

Some special characteristics of garnet are that it is translucent to transparent, it is one of the largest families of gemstones and in ancient Greece they were reminders of the Pomegranate. Info from **// http://www.all-that-gifts.com/se/garnet.htm //**

It typically forms a dodecahedron and trapezohedrons and combinations of the forms. They may be found as granular to massive. Info from [|**//http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/earthsci/imagearchive/garnet.htm//**]

Garnet is found all over the world. Info from [|**//http://www.gemstoneeducation.com/Garnet.htm//**]

Some uses for Garnet are sand paper, and gemstones. Info from [|**//http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/226081/garnet/80092/Uses//**] It is not found in Iowa though.