Gemstone profile and identification guide
Garnet is often discussed with one eye on colour and the other on where the material comes from. Collectors and lapidaries comparing similar stones often come to it for different reasons, but identification still comes back to green body colour, 6.5 Mohs hardness, and vitreous lustre. The secondary burgundy note often matters more than people expect when separating it from lookalikes.
Garnet is often discussed with one eye on colour and the other on where the material comes from. Collectors and lapidaries comparing similar stones often come to it for different reasons, but identification still comes back to green body colour, 6.5 Mohs hardness, and vitreous lustre. The secondary burgundy note often matters more than people expect when separating it from lookalikes.
Did you know? Garnet is commonly associated with material from Africa, though the broader trade may draw on multiple localities.
Use this profile as a collector reference and educational guide for quick on-page comparison, then validate with the interactive identification system.
Name: Garnet
Scientific classification: Silicate (Garnet Group)
Hardness: 7 Mohs
Transparency: transparent
Lustre: vitreous to resinous
Crystal system: Isometric (Cubic)
Primary colour: Green
Secondary colour: Burgundy
Colour family: Greens
When separating Garnet from similar-looking stones, pay attention to the combination of 6.5 Mohs hardness, vitreous lustre, and isometric crystal structure. The interaction between green and burgundy tones is more useful than the primary colour alone when comparing candidates. Useful side-by-side comparisons include Tsavorite, Demantoid, Rhodolite.
Status: verified-core-fields
Reference priority: GIA, Gem-A, Mindat, International Gem Society
Core identity fields reviewed against consensus gemological references (GIA/Gem-A/Mindat/IGS).
Some market- and locality-level details may still require citation-grade source notes for publication workflows.
Hardness category: medium
Hardness value: 7 Mohs
Chemical composition: Nesosilicate group: X3Y2(SiO4)3
Crystal system: Isometric (Cubic)
Common locations: Mozambique, Tanzania, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, India, Namibia
Learn more: Gem-A gemstone education resources.
Garnet sits in the greens grouping here, usually reading first as green with burgundy appearing as a secondary note or modifier.
Optical effects: None specified in the current dataset.
Mineral species: Garnet group
Mineral group: Garnet group
Chemical formula: Nesosilicate group: X3Y2(SiO4)3
Mohs hardness: 7
Crystal system: Isometric (Cubic)
Lustre: vitreous to resinous
Transparency: transparent
Streak: White
Cleavage: None
Fracture: Conchoidal to uneven
Specific gravity: 3.50-4.30 (species-dependent)
Refractive index: 1.73-1.89 (species-dependent)
Optical phenomena: None commonly reported
Colour range: Green, Burgundy, Red
Common inclusions: Crystals, needles, and fingerprint inclusions
Geological environment: Metamorphic and skarn-related environments with alluvial concentrations
Principal mining regions: Mozambique, Tanzania, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, India, Namibia
Important commercial sources: Commercial garnet supply includes East Africa (notably Mozambique and Tanzania), Madagascar, Sri Lanka, and India
Historical significance: Garnets are among the oldest documented gem species in jewelry history.
Common treatments: Most garnets are untreated in trade.
Synthetic or imitation forms: Glass and synthetic alternatives can imitate garnet appearance.
Common look-alikes: tsavorite, demantoid, rhodolite
Jewellery uses: Garnet is used chiefly for Best for jewellery and display pieces where colour, pattern, or internal effect matters more than maximum wear resistance.. In the trade it is commonly fashioned as faceted stones, calibrated cuts, and higher-clarity collector pieces, with Mohs hardness 7 guiding suitable jewellery applications.
Care recommendations: Clean with mild soap and water; avoid harsh chemicals to preserve surface polish.
Cross-check profile data with GIA Gem Encyclopedia and Mindat entry for Garnet.
Forms in high-temperature metamorphic rocks and igneous environments from aluminum-rich minerals. Small differences in chemistry during growth can change colour, transparency, and crystal habit even within the same general formation setting.
Commercial garnet supply includes East Africa (notably Mozambique and Tanzania), Madagascar, Sri Lanka, and India
Best for: Garnet is used chiefly for Best for jewellery and display pieces where colour, pattern, or internal effect matters more than maximum wear resistance.. In the trade it is commonly fashioned as faceted stones, calibrated cuts, and higher-clarity collector pieces, with Mohs hardness 7 guiding suitable jewellery applications.
Ideal uses: Best for jewellery and display pieces where colour, pattern, or internal effect matters more than maximum wear resistance.
Clean with mild soap and water; avoid harsh chemicals to preserve surface polish.
Need another candidate? Use advanced gemstone search or return to the identification guide.
Compare hardness (7 Mohs), crystal system (Isometric (Cubic)), colour profile, and lustre (vitreous to resinous) with your sample. Then cross-check related gemstones listed above.
Garnet sits in the greens grouping here, usually reading first as green with burgundy appearing as a secondary note or modifier.
Best for jewellery and display pieces where colour, pattern, or internal effect matters more than maximum wear resistance.. For maintenance, follow the care guidance in this profile.
GIA: general gemstone identity (reviewed) - Reviewed as a direct core gemstone profile.
Gem-A: gemological education and terminology (reviewed) - Reviewed as a direct core gemstone profile.
Mindat: mineral species and locality index (reviewed) - Reviewed as a direct core gemstone profile.
International Gem Society: collector-facing gem reference (reviewed) - Reviewed as a direct core gemstone profile.
