What Is Grossular Garnet?

Grossular garnet is a calcium-aluminum silicate and one of the major garnet species, found in shades from green tsavorite to orange hessonite. It is known for swirling patterns that are most visible under a microscope, caused by diopside crystals and irregular streaks at grain boundaries, and it is a popular jewellery material.

In crystal lore it is associated with abundance and prosperity: orange to yellow varieties stand for the hope of a sunrise and the green variety for growth. Here is what it is, where it comes from and what it traditionally symbolizes.

The Physical Properties of Grossular Garnet

Grossular garnets have different species that come in a range of colours. These colours depend on the amount of iron, manganese, and chromium present in the stone. High iron content yields brown and green colours. A stone with less than 2% of iron shows a pale colour or no colour at all. Chromium and vanadium give grossulars a dark green (tsavorite) to a yellowish green (merelani) shade.

The most popular varieties are tsavorite and hessonite. Tsavorite is a dark green grossular (mined in Tsavo National Park in Kenya) coloured mainly by vanadium with some chromium. Hessonite, also called cinnamon stone, is a reddish orange to yellowish orange grossular species. Iron and manganese give the stone its orange colour.

Grossular crystals have a hardness rating of 6.5 to 7.5 and can be transparent to opaque. They make a beautiful jewellery stone since they resist scratching from household dust.

The History of Grossular Garnet

The name grossular comes from the latin grossularia, the botanical name for gooseberry. Green grossular garnets were often likened to the grape-like gooseberries because of their colour and shape.

Several years ago, grossular was called grossularite by the German geologist Abraham Gottlob Werner in 1808. In 1971, the International Mineralogical Association discouraged the use of the term.

Grossular garnet is found in limestones that have undergone contact metamorphosis together with vesuvianite, wernerite, diopside, and wollastonite.

Green grossular was first discovered in 1967 by British geologist Campbell Bridges in the mountains of Simanjiro District, northeast of Tanzania. Bridges was reportedly murdered in 2009 (reportedly due to a dispute over Bridges' gemstone mine) on his property in Tsavo East National Park in Kenya.

However, the gemstone was known only to mineralogists in 1974 when Tiffany and Co promoted the stone. The name tsavorite was proposed by Henry Platt, president of Tiffany and Co, in honor of Tsavo East National Park

Hessonite derives its name from the Greek word esson, meaning inferior. This is in reference to the stone's low hardness and density compared to other garnet varieties. Since ancient times, this orange grossular has been a valuable gemstone among the Greeks and Romans. They used hessonite for their jewellery and for their cameo and intaglio pieces.

Grossular is commonly found in Sri Lanka, India, Brazil, Kenya, Tanzania, and the USA.

The Lore of Grossular Garnet

In ancient times, fire-coloured garnets were called carbuncles or fire coals. The Hebrews called it bareketh (flashing stone) or barak (lightning). Eastern legend has it that Noah suspended a carbuncle in the ark to diffuse light.

For the Greeks, the carbuncle is considered to be a lamp stone. They believed that wearing it around the neck gave its wearer the ability to see things in the dark. It was also said that garnet could mend fights between lovers.

Some Asiatic tribes also used red garnets as bullets in firearms and sling bows because they pierced quickly through the skin. The stones could inflict a deadlier wound than the average bullet.

The Metaphysical Properties of Grossular Garnet

In crystal lore, grossular garnet is linked with calm during relationship troubles. Tsavorite is associated with self-belief and confidence in one's abilities and worth. With its warm orange colour, hessonite is associated with sociability and human connection, and is a popular gift for people who want to open up their lives to others and feel part of their communities.

Below are other traditional associations for grossular crystals:

Tsavorite

• Symbolizes freedom and renewed energy
• Associated with strength and courage in tricky situations
• As a green stone, tsavorite attracts wealth (may it be financial, physical, emotional, creative, and artistic) and opportunities.
• Linked with the heart chakra
• Associated with vitality

Hessonite

• Attracts success
• Inspires artistic expression
• Gives courage and initiative to start endeavors like setting up a business
• Associated with clear thinking
• A symbol of composure
• Associated with self-respect

In chakra traditions, grossular garnets are linked with the root, sacral, solar plexus and heart chakras, and are associated with joy and abundance. Garnet is the birthstone of those born in January and the zodiac stone of Aquarius.

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