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Natural Grossular Garnet
Grossular is a calcium aluminum garnet (Ca3Al2(SiO4)3) and one of the most color-diverse members of the garnet family. Depending on trace elements it ranges from golden and honey tones to mint and olive greens, with vivid green tsavorite and orange-brown hessonite as its two best-known varieties. With a Mohs hardness of 7 to 7.5 it is a sturdy stone for jewelry.
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Gemstone guide
Natural Grossular Garnet
About grossular
The name comes from the Latin grossularia, gooseberry, after the pale green color of the first crystals described. Unlike most garnets, which stay within a narrow color range, grossular can be green, yellow, orange, brown, pink or even colorless; pure grossular is colorless, and color comes from traces of iron, manganese, vanadium or chromium. Important sources include East Africa, Sri Lanka, Mali and Canada. Grossular is rarely treated.
What you'll find in this collection
This collection holds natural, untreated grossular garnet from Africa, faceted and as cabochons, in yellow and green tones, from about half a carat to over 4 carats. Tsavorite has its own collection.
How to recognise grossular
Grossular is singly refractive with a refractive index of about 1.74, lower than that of almandine or spessartine, so its sparkle is softer. Hessonite often shows a swirled, treacly look under magnification, sometimes described as heat waves, while the green varieties are usually clean.
Caring for grossular
Grossular has no cleavage and wears well. Clean it with warm soapy water and a soft brush, and avoid sudden temperature changes.
Every stone is natural, and each listing gives its weight, size, origin and treatment, with photos of the actual stone.