Grossular Garnets

Grossular Garnet var. Hessonite from Vesper PeakGrossular is a calcium-aluminum species of the Garnet group of minerals. The name Grossular is derived from the botanical name for the gooseberry, “grossularia”, in reference to the green Garnet of this composition that is found in Siberia. Other shades include cinnamon brown (cinnamon stone variety), red, and yellow. Grossular Garnet is a gemstone. Jewelers and some collectors tend to call these stones “Grossularite” which is a misnomer. Grossular should not be called grossularite; grossularite was once a type of rock. We will still use the term Grossularite because so many people still call them Grossularite as a type of Garnets.

Hessonite belongs to the Grossular Garnet group. While most Grossular Garnet is green, Hessonite typically has an orange-brown color and is often called the “cinnamon stone”. Hessonite Garnet ranges in color from honey- yellow to orange-brown and brown-red. When you view Hessonite under magnification waves and swirls of areas of varying transparency are visible. These subtle inclusions are useful in distinguishing hessonite from other gemstones of similar color, such as citrine, topaz and orange zircon.

Grossular Garnet is one of the six main members of the Garnet family, which also includes Pyrope, Almandine, Spessartite, Uvarovite and Andradite. All varieties of Garnet share a common crystal structure but have varying chemical compositions. Grossularite is the term commonly used for the calcium-aluminum form of Garnet. Grossularite can often be confused with Demantoid Garnet, but Demantoid is a variety of Andradite, a calcium- iron Garnet. Though the Grossular Garnet species includes a variety of gemstones, grossularite typically refers to the more common light to medium-green gem-quality form of Grossular Garnet. Other rarer varieties of Grossular Garnet tend to trade under their own variety names.

Other Varieties of Grossular Garnet include;

-Tsavorite Garnet which is an emerald-green Grossular Garnet colored by chromium or vanadium. It was named after Tsavo National Park located on the border of Tanzania and Kenya, near Mount Kilimanjaro.

-Hessonite Garnet is an orange-brown Grossular variety, often referred to as the 'cinnamon stone' or 'Kaneel stone'. Its color is owed to traces of manganese and iron.

-Hydrogrossular Garnet is a rare, green Grossular Garnet which is dense and opaque. Its color resembles that of jade.

-Leuco Garnet is a rare white or colorless to near-colorless variety of Grossular Garnet. Most specimens will exhibit a slight tinge of yellow, green or pink color.

Grossular Garnet var. Hessonite from Vesper Peak
Grossular Garnet var. Hessonite from Vesper Peak
Grossular Garnet var. Hessonite from Vesper Peak
Grossular Garnet var. Hessonite from Vesper Peak
Grossular Garnet var. Hessonite from Vesper Peak Grossular Garnet var. Hessonite from Vesper Peak Grossular Garnet var. Hessonite from Vesper Peak Grossular Garnet var. Hessonite from Vesper Peak
Item # 1HESGAR09160003

Grossular Garnet var. Hessonite from Vesper Peak

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Here's an excellent old stock display specimen of Hessonite Crystals glued to styrofoam (which was normal during the 1970's) in a 2 x 2 x 1" (51 x 51 x 25mm) display case. This specimen is a Grossularite Garnet var. Hessonite that has a vibrant reddish-orange color. The specimen is an intergrown cluster of dodecahedra crystals. Some crystals show the classic cube face modification. Most of the crystals are undamaged, with a few crystals showing extraction damage. This rare specimen is from Vesper Peak, Sultan Basin, Sultan District, Snohomish Co., Washington, USA

Vesper Peak (Elevation: 6214 ft / 1894 m) was a legendary locality that was difficult to reach, and even more difficult to collect. Lots of difficult rock and snowpack climbing was required to reach the large skarn area, located 300' southwest of the Vesper Peak Ridge Crest. This skarn area was a noted locality for fine grossular during the 1970's. Very few large specimens have ever come out of this area. We procured this specimen from a mineral dealer at the Grassy Creek Gem & Mineral Show in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. The weight listed includes the display cube as well as the specimen.

This specimen weighs 1 oz (28g) and measures 1 x 0.8x 0.47 inches (26 x 20 x 12mm)

Grossular Garnets on matrix from Jefferson Mine Asbestos Canada
Grossular Garnets on matrix from Jefferson Mine Asbestos Canada
Grossular Garnets on matrix from Jefferson Mine Asbestos Canada
Grossular Garnets on matrix from Jefferson Mine Asbestos Canada
Grossular_Garnet_Jeffery_Mine_40
Grossular Garnets on matrix from Jefferson Mine Asbestos Canada
Grossular Garnets on matrix from Jefferson Mine Asbestos Canada Grossular Garnets on matrix from Jefferson Mine Asbestos Canada Grossular Garnets on matrix from Jefferson Mine Asbestos Canada Grossular Garnets on matrix from Jefferson Mine Asbestos Canada Grossular_Garnet_Jeffery_Mine_40 Grossular Garnets on matrix from Jefferson Mine Asbestos Canada
Item # 2GROSGAR10167363G119

Grossular Garnets on matrix from Jefferson Mine in Asbestos Canada

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The Grossular (Hessonite) Garnets from the Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos, Les Sources Regional County Municipality, Estrie, Québec, Canada are world-famous, and some of the most sought-after Grossular specimens for the species. These peach orange honey-colored crystals have superb luster, and sharp crystal definition. More importantly, they have that rare internal brightness combined with external glassy lustre that places this piece in the top percentiles for quality. This extraordinarily beautiful piece has crystals up to 10mm and the crystals are on 3 out of 6 sides. Specimens of this caliber were always rare, and now that the mine has closed, they are even harder to find. The crystals are extremely sharp and have a wet looking luster that is truly dazzling. There is minor extraction damage. A very nice collector specimen!.

This specimen weighs 1 oz (31g) and measures 1.4 x 1.1 x 0.8 inches (3.5 x 2.9 x 2.2cm)

Grossular Garnets on matrix from Jefferson Mine Asbestos Canada
Grossular Garnets on matrix from Jefferson Mine Asbestos Canada
Grossular_Garnet_Jeffery_Mine_52
Grossular Garnets on matrix from Jefferson Mine Asbestos Canada
Grossular Garnets on matrix from Jefferson Mine Asbestos Canada
Grossular Garnets on matrix from Jefferson Mine Asbestos Canada
Grossular Garnets on matrix from Jefferson Mine Asbestos Canada Grossular Garnets on matrix from Jefferson Mine Asbestos Canada Grossular_Garnet_Jeffery_Mine_52 Grossular Garnets on matrix from Jefferson Mine Asbestos Canada Grossular Garnets on matrix from Jefferson Mine Asbestos Canada Grossular Garnets on matrix from Jefferson Mine Asbestos Canada
Item # 3GROSGAR10165532

Grossular Garnets on matrix from Jefferson Mine in Asbestos Canada

$95.00

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The Grossular (Hessonite) Garnets from the Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos, Les Sources Regional County Municipality, Estrie, Québec, Canada are world-famous, and some of the most sought-after Grossular specimens for the species. These crystals have superb luster, and sharp crystal definition. This is a thin plate of matrix coated completely on one side with gemmy cinnamon-orange grossular garnet crystals. There are no missing crystals, there is minor extraction damage. It has excellent striations that are classic for these garnets. This exceptional piece has crystals up to 9.8mm. Specimens of this caliber were always rare, and now that the mine has closed, they are even harder to find. The crystals are extremely sharp and have a wet looking luster that is truly dazzling. A highly desirable collector specimen!.

This specimen weighs 0.24 oz (7g) and measures 1.1 x 0.97 x 0.31 inches (30 x 24 x 8mm)