Garnet stone properties, types and much more. Garnet is a precious or semi-precious stone Garnet is an ornamental stone

Garnet is a stone as ancient as it is covered in legends. There were legends about the magical properties of pomegranate in all the places where this stone was found. Its habitat is very wide: there are deposits in Asia, Europe, Africa and even America. Due to the fact that certain types of garnet come to the surface in the form of placers, many ancient peoples had the opportunity to become acquainted with them.

History and origin

It is impossible to tell the full story of the pomegranate briefly, it is too voluminous. A description of the stone is found in the records of medieval scribes from Europe, Persia and Arabia. It is found in gold jewelry of ancient Scythia; the inhabitants of ancient Rome were familiar with it, who gave the stone the name “carbuncle” and their neighbors, the Hellenes, who called it “anfrax”.

Garnet stone

The ancient Greeks most often worked with the dark variety of garnet. The name "anfrax" means "coal". At the same time, the ancients often called all minerals of red color, corresponding structure and transparency, garnet.

Noble spinel, some varieties of hyacinth and other scarlet or crimson crystals were confused with garnet (or, more precisely, they were not distinguished from it).

True, garnet has always been contrasted with ruby, which is harder and has a different, more perfect play of color. It began to be considered a true precious stone only in the 17th century; before that it had rather a utilitarian meaning. Ancient people valued the medicinal properties of the gem more, in particular the ability attributed to it to stop bleeding.

In Europe and the Middle East, mainly the red variety of stone was mined, two subspecies of which were later called pyrope and almandine. The mineral received its modern name thanks to the “Phoenician apple” - the pomegranate fruit tree, for the characteristic garnet color of its crystals. The word “granatus” itself means “grain-like” - referring to the dark red translucent grains of this plant. Only at the beginning of the Renaissance did scientists discover that garnets can be pink, purple, yellowish, colorless, and even black or green; the latter are sometimes confused with chrysolite.

In medieval Rus', this stone was called “bechet” or “venisa”, sometimes “worm” or “wormy yacht”.

Physicochemical characteristics

From the point of view of physicists, chemists and geologists, all minerals of the garnet family have a complex molecular structure. The basis is silicon oxide in combination with various metals - mainly iron, manganese, magnesium, less often aluminum and chromium. A separate group of garnets contains calcium and metal compounds.

The color of the crystal depends on the metal impurities. Iron gives a red color, manganese gives a yellowish color, aluminum lightens the color, and an admixture of titanium makes it black. Calcium garnets are mostly yellow or green.

Differences in the chemical composition have little effect on the properties of pomegranate; they are approximately similar in all types. This stone has a hardness of up to 7.5 Mohs, a vitreous luster and a medium density.

Garnet stones

Formula	X3Y2Z3φ12, where X are elements in the dodecahedral position; Y – elements in octahedral position; Z – elements in tetrahedral position; φ – O, OH or F
Color	Very rarely colorless; mostly painted in different colors, with the exception of blue
Shine	Glass, greasy, resin, diamond
Transparency	Transparent, translucent, see-through
Hardness	6 6,5 7 7,5
Cleavage	Not visible
Kink	Conchoidal, uneven
Density	3,4 - 4,3

Mining locations

The places where garnet is mined have different geological characteristics. Some subspecies of this mineral, for example pyrope, are mined along with diamonds, in diamondiferous rocks (kimberlite pipes). Such deposits are located in South Africa and Russian Yakutia. The most common subspecies, almandine, is found throughout the world in shale and gneiss rocks, both in the thickness of mountain ranges and in placers. Calcium garnets, such as grossular, are often found in limestone rocks.

In Russia, the largest concentrations of garnets are located on the Karelian Isthmus and on the Kola Peninsula, mainly almandines. In the Urals, a rare and beautiful uvarovite garnet is mined.

The largest garnet deposits in the world, besides our country, are located in the USA and Canada. They are found in Brazil, Madagascar, Finland, Azerbaijan and some European countries. But the gem mined there is distinguished by its unique color.

Colors and varieties

Classic garnets have all shades of red; this is their main distinguishing feature. Unlike ruby, the fruits of the “Phoenician apple” are not so transparent; they have a slight moiré haze. Some specimens are purple, some are black, others are distinguished by their play of green tint.

Main varieties of pomegranate:

1. Pyrope. One of the few that matters in jewelry. Rich red color, closer to purple.

   
   Pyrope stone

2. Almandine. The most common of all garnets. Red almandine differs from pyrope in its lighter shade, but the stone can also be purple and almost black.

   
   Almandine stone

3. Spessartine is brownish, orange, sometimes yellow. Mined in Germany.

   
   Spessartine stone

4. Grossular. In Latin - “gooseberry”. It got its name because of its color similarity to gooseberries; it is the same greenish-brown with hints of yellow. There are grossulars of emerald shades.

   
   Grossular stone

5. Uvarovite is a Ural garnet of rich emerald color.

   
   The stone will boil down

6. Hessonite is the color of honey.

   
   Hessonite stone

7. Andradite is a Brazilian variety of garnet. There are different colors - red, yellow, greenish.

   
   Andradite stone

8. Melanite - black.

   
   Melanite stone

9. Leucogranate is a transparent stone. It is more important for industry than for jewelry.

   
   Leucogranate stone

It is difficult to distinguish a garnet of an “unusual” color from another precious or semi-precious stone. This can only be done in the laboratory.

Artificial pomegranate

Since this stone is important for industry - from the manufacture of abrasives to the creation of laser emitters - they learned to synthesize it back in the first half of the 20th century. Artificial garnet is not a fake in the full sense of the word, since it was not originally intended for use in the jewelry industry.

Moreover, using high-quality synthetic garnets to imitate real ones is pointless: due to the nature of the production process, the price of an artificial garnet that looks similar to a natural one is comparable to the price of a natural one. But thanks to synthesis, it is possible to grow stones of any color and shade, for example, dark blue (such garnets do not occur in nature).

Synthetic stones are usually used for industrial needs. They are added as additives to mortars, used to create various elements in microelectronics, laser systems are constructed based on them, and so on.

Medicinal properties

The healing properties are mainly attributed to the red varieties of this stone - pyrope and almandine, since these are the most ancient known subspecies of garnet.

Less often they talk about grossular.

The importance of garnet in lithotherapy is great, but you need to be aware that in most cases this does not mean any stones, but red ones. And their main property is based on the ancient rules of sympathetic magic. This means that like influences like - red as blood, the garnet has power over blood.

It means that:

• pomegranate can stop wound bleeding;
• it promotes accelerated regeneration;
• it normalizes blood pressure.

In addition, wearing a garnet in gold is beneficial for health as a cold prevention - it prevents many pulmonary diseases. A stone set in silver is suitable for people who have weak immunity and, due to this, an increased risk of contracting a sore throat, pneumonia or other infectious diseases.

Gold ring with garnet

Pomegranate is able to give its owner vigor and vitality to cope with almost any illness or stress.

Magic properties

The magical properties of the stone primarily include the ability described above to influence the blood, as well as fill its owner with energy and give strength for new achievements. No wonder rings with garnets were very popular among the crusader knights who fought in difficult and unusual conditions for Europeans.

The ancient magic of the pomegranate patronizes people who are strong, purposeful, but at the same time - a key condition - fighting for a good cause.

A person's occupation can be anything - warrior, politician, businessman, artist. There are two key conditions: he must have a creative beginning, that is, bring something new into his activities, constantly improve and move forward, and must not have evil, dark thoughts. Garnet is a stone of fair combat, frontal attack. He can destroy a swindler and an intriguer, lead him into a cycle of intrigues he has woven and confuse him. Often the gem brings such people to a severe mental disorder, which in the material sphere goes hand in hand with bankruptcy and ruin.

Red pomegranate helps those people who want to develop themselves and develop their business.

It is very important for the owner of this stone to have a clear, formulated goal, otherwise a “confused” stone will push the owner from side to side, in some cases even provoke diseases.

Pomegranate amulets, talismans and amulets are capable of:

• help the owner identify hidden enemies;
• heal wounds;
• protect from water hazards;
• help in love affairs, especially in winning the heart of an unapproachable girl;
• enhance the charisma and charm of the owner.

Please note: Garnet jewelry is dangerous for some people. This stone enhances the primitive nature of man, awakens the predator, aggressor, and beast in him. In this way, it helps people suffering from a lack of aggression (in some life situations this is a minus), but those who are naturally aggressive, with a strong “beast” inside, are turned into monsters by the pomegranate.

Zodiac compatibility

Astrologers believe that according to the horoscope, garnet corresponds to the fire element, although in this case it means only the red variety of the stone. The garnet stone in different forms refers to different zodiac signs.

Red stones - pyrope and almandine - are suitable for Leo, Capricorn, Sagittarius, and to a lesser extent - Virgo. At the same time, he lacks compatibility with water signs, especially Pisces and Cancer. Taurus also does not like this mineral.

Grossular by zodiac sign will suit everyone. This is one of the most peaceful stones, but its strength is less than that of its scarlet counterparts.

Zodiac sign	Compatibility
Aries	+
Taurus	-
Twins	+
Cancer	+
a lion	+
Virgo	+
Scales	+
Scorpion	+++
Sagittarius	+
Capricorn	+++
Aquarius	+
Fish	+

(“+++” - fits perfectly, “+” - can be worn, “-” - is strictly contraindicated)

Compatibility with other stones

In this matter, everything is not easy for pomegranate. The fact is that different types of this stone belong to different elements. Pyrope, almandine, grossular are Fire stones. But, for example, uvarovite is the stone of Air. Fire and Air are friendly elements, but Fire, unlike Air, does not combine with Earth.

So, you can choose stones that suit each other according to this scheme. All grenades combine with:

• diamond and diamond;
• ruby;
• coral;
• pyrite;
• heliolite;
• rock crystal;
• topaz;
• amethyst;
• carnelian;
• golden beryl.

Garnet beads

You should not wear them with Water stones - a mutual contradiction will arise (not so strong in the case of uvarovite).

In jewelry, first of all, avoid combinations of garnet:

• with emerald;
• opal;
• aquamarine;
• moonstone;
• alexandrite;
• pearls;
• tourmaline;
• zircon.

In addition to uvarovite, it should also be used with caution. These include:

• jasper;
• chalcedony;
• agate;
• onyx;
• malachite;
• turquoise;
• obsidian;
• morion.

As well as other opaque minerals.

Application in products

Currently, the market is saturated with products containing garnet, mostly almandine. Such jewelry is worn mainly by women.

For men who want to look impressive, for example, gold or silver cufflinks with dark pyrope are made.

Excluding industrial applications, it is used as inserts in rings, earrings and pendants. Cut - cabochon or diamond. Sometimes the processing is reduced to a minimum: for example, heavy beads made from uncut, but only polished, red garnet look beautiful.

Pomegranate cufflinks

In addition, this stone was often used for precious inlays in luxury items.

How to spot a fake

The cost of a pomegranate is not very high, but it is counterfeited.

It is quite difficult to distinguish natural stone from synthetic stone.

Their hardness, density and shine are the same; moreover, synthetics can be harder. To determine the authenticity of a stone, use one of the following rules:

• rub a specimen of a stone on wool - a natural mineral, like an ebonite stick, becomes electrified, a synthetic one does not;
• natural stone has a heterogeneous color, and artificial stone has a bright color;
• Specimens larger than a coffee bean should be considered suspicious - such stones are rare in nature.

Natural stone differs from painted glass in hardness - it is much harder.

How to wear and care

Rings with garnet are worn on the middle finger - if the frame is made of silver, then on the left hand, if made of gold, then on the right hand. There are no specific requirements for wearing beads, pendants or earrings, with the exception of combinations with other stones.

Gold ring with garnet

A dirty product should be washed with a weak soap or saline solution. You can add a couple of drops of ammonia. Wipe with a cloth, do not use hard sponges or abrasives. Store in a separate bag.

Favorable time to buy

You should purchase jewelry with garnet in gold or silver in sunny weather, on a bright day.

If you purchased or received a ring or beads with garnet as a gift from another person, you should clean them by leaving them in running water for one day.

An extensive group of minerals from the class of silicates with isolated tetrahedra that are similar in structure and properties. The name is given due to the similarity of some of them to pomegranate fruit seeds.
The general formula is R 2+ 3 R 3+ 2 (SiO 4) 3, where R 2+ = Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, and R 3+ = Al, Fe, Cr, Mn. Garnets provide an excellent example of the ease with which certain elements can replace each other without disrupting the crystal structure. Despite the apparent complexity of their chemical composition, all garnets are described by the same formulas.

See also:

STRUCTURE

Cubic system, hexoctahedral type of symmetry. The structure of garnets consists of isolated groups (Si0 4) located along a fourth-order helical axis. This explains the rhombododecahedral and tetragontrioctahedral habit of the crystals, and the change in the ratio between divalent and trivalent cations may apparently be responsible for the predominance of the rhombododecahedral appearance for the calcium series of garnets, and the tetragontrioctahedral for the aluminum series. Based on the nature of isomorphic substitutions, the following are distinguished:
I. (Mg, Fe, Mn) AI-garnets, called pyralspites;
II. (Al, Fe, Cr) Ca-garnets, called ugrandites.
Continuous series have been established: pyrope - almandine, almandine - spessartine, grossular - andradite and andradite - uvarovite. There is no complete isomorphic miscibility between Al-garnets and Ca-garnets.

PROPERTIES

The color of garnets varies widely. Colorless transparent varieties are rare. Blue garnets are not found. Chromium-containing garnets are usually colored bright green, and sometimes, when the chromium content is low, red. Some transparent varieties of andradite (demantoid) are also sometimes colored green. In general, no strict patterns of coloring of garnets depending on their composition have been established. The line is white or lightly colored in various shades. The luster is greasy, glassy, ​​sometimes close to diamond (andradite) or diamond (shorlomite). Refractive indices increase as the content of FeO, Fe 2 O 3 and TiO 2 increases.
Hardness 6.5-7.5. Almandine, pyrope and spessartine have higher hardness (7-7.5). Cleavage is imperfect according to (110), usually absent. The fracture is uneven.

MORPHOLOGY

The following garnets with an intermediate composition are known and classified as varieties:
Hessonite - Fe-grossular of a specific beautiful red color
Melanite - Ti-andradite with isomorphic replacement of NaTi by CaFe 3+
Shorlomite is a variety highly enriched in titanium, black in color and with a metallic sheen.
Demantoid is a transparent green to greenish-yellow variety of andradite, with high luster and very high light dispersion. For Ural demantoid stones, most stones are characterized by fibrous radially arranged inclusions of silvery or golden-yellow asbestos-like crystals of bissolite or hollow channels (“horsetail”) remaining from its destruction. These inclusions are not only typical for demantoid, but can even increase its price, since they definitely indicate the naturalness of the stone and, if properly processed, create an additional decorative effect. There are demantoids with a “cat’s eye” effect, which is created in some grains due to the abundance and dense arrangement of inclusions. Demantoid is the most valuable of the garnets. It is easily distinguished from other green gemstones by its high refractive index, lack of birefringence, and strong dispersion.
Topazolite is a transparent yellowish-green andradite, yttrium garnet with YAl replaced by CaSi
Kimtseite - with a ZrO 2 content of about 20%
Gibsite - with a certain amount of phosphorus, replacing part of the silicon atoms and with a water content (hydrogarnets, especially hydrogrossular).
Tsavorite - (named after the place of discovery near the Tsavo National Park and the Tsavo River, Tanzania) is a rare bright green garnet of different shades, a transparent variety of grossular. First found in Africa in 1967 by British geologist Campbell Bridge in the mountains of northeastern Tanzania. Crystals up to 1-5 carats are numerous, and those weighing more than five carats are very rare, which is why faceted tsavorite larger than two carats is rare. A moderately expensive jewelry stone that lends itself well to cutting. Not found in Russia, but already known quite well.

ORIGIN

The most widespread are garnets of contact-metasomatic origin, which arise as a result of reactions of predominantly acidic magmas with carbonate rocks (limestones and dolomites) under conditions of relatively high temperatures. They are often found in the form of solid masses (grossular and andradite) or are part of skarns, consisting mainly of calcareous silicates: diopside, hedenbergite, epidote, vesuvianite, sometimes wollastonite, actinolite, chlorites, helvin, etc. Andradite skarns also contain ore minerals.
Less common are deposits of garnets (mainly almandine), which arose under the influence of acidic magmas on basic metamorphic rocks (amphibolites, hornblende gneisses, hornblende-chlorite rocks, etc.), especially if the latter are observed in the form of xenoliths among igneous rocks.
As new formations, garnets are also widespread in crystalline schists: mica, chlorite, talc, amphibole, etc. The composition of the resulting garnets depends on the composition of the original rocks. During the metamorphism of rocks rich in Al and Fe, almandine is formed, calcareous rocks - grossular, magnesium-alumina rocks - pyrope, etc. In garnet crystals, which sometimes reach significant sizes (up to 1 cm or more), inclusions of foreign minerals are often found, formed in shale. Muscovite, biotite, quartz, kyanite, sillimanite, graphite, rutile, magnetite, etc. are often observed in paragenesis with them.
Uvarovite and other chromium-rich garnets are quite often observed as well-formed crystals in association with chrome spinels and chrome chlorites in voids (mainly in cracks) among deposits of chromium iron ore in ultramafic igneous rocks (Saranovskoye deposit in the Urals).
During the process of weathering, garnets, being relatively chemically stable minerals, turn into placers. However, iron garnets decompose during intense weathering processes, forming brown iron ores in the form of iron hats. Manganese garnets are destroyed even more easily with the formation of manganese hydroxides.

APPLICATION

Transparent, beautifully colored varieties of garnets are used in jewelry as semi-precious stones. At present they are of little importance.

Garnets with high hardness (almandine, pyrope, spessartine) are widely used as an abrasive material. For this purpose, garnets formed in the form of isolated relatively large crystals are more suitable than garnets from continuous granular masses. About 90% of garnets are used to make so-called garnet paper or cloth, which is used primarily for polishing hard wood (oak, walnut, maple, mahogany, etc.), grinding mirror glass, polishing leather, hard rubber, celluloid and other products.

To obtain abrasive materials, garnet-containing rocks undergo special enrichment. Rocks containing more than 10% of well-formed large crystals (more than 1 cm in diameter) are considered industrial.

Garnet (eng. Garnet) - A 3 B 2 3, where A = Mg, Fe, Mn, Ca and B = Al, Fe, Mn

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Mineral color	dark red, pinkish red, black, red, brownish red, brown, orange yellow, honey yellow, pale green, yellow, greenish, emerald green, brownish black
Stroke color	white
Transparency	opaque, transparent
Shine	bold, glass, diamond
Cleavage	imperfect by (110)
Hardness (Mohs scale)	6,5-7,5
Kink	uneven
Strength	fragile
Density (measured)	3.47 - 3.83 g/cm 3
Radioactivity (GRapi)	0

Garnet belongs to the class of hard silicates. The stone has been known to people for dozens of centuries: it was used as decoration by the Egyptians, Persians, ancient Romans, Greeks, and Scythians. It is mentioned under different names, for example, carbuncle, scale.

More well known are varieties of red shades, similar in color and size to the grains of the plant of the same name. Although there are stones of other colors - green, yellow, black garnet. The mineral is not considered expensive, but it is counterfeited. Synthetic (artificial) garnets are often found on the jewelry market.

The mineral is mined in large quantities on almost all continents. Many countries have deposits of garnets: South Africa, Sri Lanka, USA, India. Our gem is mined in Chukotka, Yakutia, and the Urals.

Appearance and color depend on the area. Specific fractures and chemical composition are determined by the host rock. For example, a dark brown color means that the mineral contains a lot of iron and titanium. Based on physical and chemical characteristics, geologist Sobolev identified 37 representatives of the group.

The chemical composition suggests the mining region. For garnets, examination is rarely carried out, since the stone is usually inexpensive. Only some copies cost more than one thousand dollars.

Varieties

Many people believe that garnet is an exclusively red mineral. The ancients even combined it with other gemstones of the same color: ruby ​​and spinel. All of them were called "laly".

However, garnet is a separate group, including crystals of different colors. For example, andradite is not only red, but also green or black.

Pyrope

Even stones of the same type that have differences are valued and used differently. An example is pyrope, which is dark red, sometimes orange, pink, or purple. The transparent mineral is suitable for making jewelry. Translucent pyrope has a lower cost and is used for other purposes. For example, due to its high hardness, cloudy red garnet is suitable for grinding other materials.

This scarlet crystal “loves” rocks rich in magnesium. Among the world's well-known deposits, Russian (Yakutia) and South African deposits stand out.

Rhodolite

The names of the varieties are often associated with legends. Rhodolite is named after the nymph Rhoda and is considered her tears. One interpretation of the name is stone rose.

The composition contains a lot of magnesium and iron, so you can observe the alexandrite effect: in natural light the crystal is blue, violet, in artificial light it is pinkish.

High-quality stones are expensive. If there are any defects (cloudy spots, cracks), the mineral is processed. Usually a cabochon is used, so the surface is without edges.

Good representatives are always small in size. The standard size is about 2 cm. Even pure rhodolite does not exist without inclusions or with uniform coloring.

This is one way to recognize a fake: the fake looks perfectly smooth and transparent.

Rhodolite is used as a jewelry stone. The most deposits are on the island of Sri Lanka, Africa, and Scandinavia. There are also deposits in Russia, for example, in Karelia, but the quality of the minerals here is noticeably inferior to the best samples.

Andradite

There are varieties of pomegranate in black, green, and brown colors. All these shades, as well as red, yellow, and orange, are found in andradite.

For jewelry, use plain green, yellow or brown garnets - demantoids. They were first found in Russia in the Urals in the 19th century. Good examples cost more than $10,000 per carat.

Most andradites are mined in Russia. Ural demantoids have characteristic inclusions of bissolite - “horse tail”.

Spessartine

Spessartine is one of the most expensive types of garnets. Good stones cost more than $1,000 per carat. This mineral has many colors: bright red, yellow, brown and their shades. Spessartine has a special oily sheen.

Widely used in jewelry and loved by collectors. Large valuable specimens weigh more than 4 carats and are mined in Mexico, Italy, and Norway. In addition to the Urals, large deposits have been found in Siberia and Karelia.

Almandine

Indian yogis especially valued the hardest of pomegranates. Almandine is often red or purple in color. There are crystals with a pronounced purple, brown, and black tint. The latter are called melanitis. The color of almandines depends on the combination of iron and aluminum.

The stone is very common and recognizable. Of interest to jewelers are only transparent minerals mined in Ceylon. Less valuable ones are found in Madagascar, Finland, India, Mongolia, and the Kola Peninsula.

Grossular

Hessonide is a garnet with large amounts of calcium and aluminum. It is also grossular or gomed. There are yellow, brown, green, and reddish minerals. Very rare gems include leucite, a transparent white grossular that is highly valued by jewelers. Another pride of any gemological collection is sea-green gomed, or hydrogrossular.

The stone is judged by its clarity, color and brilliance. The main deposits are located in Tanzania and Kenya.

Uvarovite

"Ural emerald" is rare. Uvarovite has a characteristic green tint and a beautiful glass-like luster.

The variety was found in the 19th century in the Urals. The gem is named after Count Uvarov. Catherine II immediately appreciated the beauty of the stone. Jewelry with uvarovite was popular at court. Many crystals are found in antique brooches and rings. Uvarovite is very similar to emerald, but is much cheaper.

The main deposits are found in metamorphic rocks rich in iron and manganese. Uvarovite is mined in Russia, Finland, Canada and some other countries.

Garnet chameleon

Stones that “can” change color are valued. Jewelers call this ability color reversal. A classic example is alexandrite, after which a similar effect is named. However, there are other minerals that react to light.

Among silicates, this is a chameleon garnet. In artificial light it turns red-violet, in daylight it turns blue and green, which is unusual for representatives of this group. For a long time it was believed that white or blue garnets did not occur in nature.

Healing properties and zodiac compatibility

In culture, medicine and magic, gems have always received a lot of attention:

• The ancient Greeks considered the pomegranate a sacred tree and the stone associated with it.
• There is a mention in the Qur'an that the Fourth Heaven is made of carbuncle, a type of red color.
• Some Christians see the pomegranate as a symbol of sacrifice, comparing it to a drop of Christ's blood.
• The French alchemist Pierrot d'Apono (Pierre di Boniface) believed that the stone drives out evil spirits from a person.

They tried to use the beneficial properties of the mineral in medicine:

• Travelers used it as a general tonic.
• Women put on the stone during pregnancy and removed it only after childbirth. It brought good health to mother and child.
• The Crusaders wore rings with garnets. Jewelry protected against poisoning and serious wounds.
• In Asia, the crystal helped cope with lung diseases and bronchitis.

Magicians and astrologers recommend wearing the stone, because it can give vital energy, protect you from danger, and help you make difficult choices.

People who need power will also find it useful. No wonder the Persians called pomegranate the “royal gem” for imparting wisdom and strength.

The type and color of the amulet are very important. For example, black garnet (melanite) absorbs bad energy better than others, so it is suitable for protection against the evil eye. Green patterns promote business development.

However, pomegranate often inflames passions that can destroy. It puts a person in extreme conditions. Soft, insecure people should not wear this stone.

According to astrologers, a gem of red shades is suitable for Aries, Gemini and Leo, helping to establish good relationships with others. Libra and Virgo are favored by minerals of yellow and green shades. Cancers are not recommended to often wear jewelry with stones of any color. Scorpios, Taurus and Pisces should wear them with caution.

What does pomegranate go with?

Bright crystals attract attention and complement the image, and if chosen incorrectly, they will stand out from the overall ensemble. There are 4 unspoken rules that allow you to choose a garnet to match your clothes and other jewelry:

1. White, black and transparent inserts are considered universal in color. However, the stones influence each other and together - the owner. It is undesirable, for example, to wear garnet to impart wisdom along with onyx and malachite. These minerals do not combine.
2. You should not wear jewelry with a gem in gold and silver at the same time.
3. When selecting crystals for eye color, the type according to the seasons is taken into account.
4. Inserts in jewelry sets (sets) must match in shade. Color contrast with beads is allowed.

Garnet is not a very expensive piece of jewelry, but it looks elegant and sophisticated in both men's and women's jewelry. The variety of types allows you to choose “your” stone not only according to its magical properties, but also to suit your type of appearance or wardrobe.

Garnet stone has been known to people for a long time. Mystical and healing properties were attributed to this precious stone, and, of course, it was widely used in jewelry. It is one of the twenty most expensive stones in the world and is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful minerals.

History of the origin of the stone

The garnet stone received its modern name in 1270. It was then that the famous alchemist Albert Magnus, describing this rare red mineral, gave it the name “granatus”. This word is related to the term “granules” and literally translated from Latin means “granular.”

Indeed, natural pomegranate occurs in nature in the form of small round granules. Moreover, the size of the unprocessed mineral does not exceed the grains of the tropical fruit of the same name.

In ancient times, each nation gave this gem its own name:

1. “Chervets” or “lal” - in Rus'.
2. “Bijazi” - in the Arab East (in Russia this word was gradually transformed into “bechet” and quickly took root among the people).
3. The ancient Greeks called this gem anthrax, a burning coal.
4. And the ancient Roman name, also translated as “coal” - “carbuncle” - was used until the 19th century.

Description of pomegranate

Garnet is one of the most worthy rivals. They are similar both in appearance and in their physical properties (although ruby ​​is a harder mineral). Externally, garnet looks like a transparent or translucent stone with a glassy shiny, very smooth surface.

Garnet patronizes travelers, warriors, lovers, women expecting a child, and people in difficult life situations.

Colors and varieties

Most often, when talking about garnet, we mean the classic dark red or, in extreme cases, pink color of this mineral. However, these are far from the only varieties. The color of garnet stone can vary from scarlet to yellow, green and even transparent.

Pyrope

The most common red garnet. Its name comes from the Greek word “pyropos” - like fire. Magnesium and aluminum salts give the stone its peculiar shade.

Almandine

A mineral characterized by a high content of potassium and magnesium. Depending on their concentration, the color can vary from deep red to brown, purple and pink. It is to this variety that the “Bohemian” or “Czech” garnet belongs - a very expensive, almost transparent gem of a light pink hue.

In Rus', brought from the Arab East, they were called “Syrian pomegranate”.

Grossular

Allumocalcium silicate, the color of which is given by iron ore salts. The very name of this stone comes from the Latin name for gooseberry, which speaks better than any words about the appearance of grossular: small round stones shine in all shades of green and yellow.

Grossular can be:

• light herbaceous;
• orange-yellow;
• dark brown;
• transparent;
• and even an extremely rare sea green color (in mineralogy it bears the name hydrogrossular);

Uvarovite

An extremely rare emerald green garnet found in only a few deposits in the world. It was first discovered in the Urals, in the Saranovsky mine, in 1832 and named after the Russian academician and minister of education, Sergei Uvarov. This stone is often called the “Ural emerald.”

This mineral received its name in honor of its discoverer, Jose d’Andrada. In nature, this type of pomegranate has different shades - from yellow and greenish-marsh, to brown and even red. The most popular varieties of andradite are:

Melanitis

An incredibly rare black garnet, characterized by an opaque, matte structure. In fact, this color is a dull dark red, but due to the lack of shine, the stone absorbs almost the entire spectrum of the sun's color, which is why it appears charcoal dark.

Shorlomit

Another type of black garnet, rich in iron salts, thanks to which the edges of the stone have a bright shine with a metallic tint.

Demantoid

An extremely rare transparent gem, distinguished by its light green color. Its name means, literally translated, “like a diamond,” although in appearance it rather resembles. This mineral is often found in the decoration of Russian palaces of the 18th – 19th centuries.

Spessartine

For the first time, this stone began to be mined in the town of Spessarty, in Germany - this is where the official name of this garnet variety came from. The main colors are yellow, brown, and pink, although there are also examples of a red tint.

Hessonite

Or in other words “essonite”, “cinnamon stone” - garnet of all shades of brown. The most common shades found in nature are yellow, honey, orange, and purple. Occasionally, cinnamon-colored hessonites are found. This is one of the least hard types of pomegranate. Actually, the word “hesson” itself means “weak”, “lesser” in Latin.

Rhodolite

Some mineralologists classify it as a separate group, but in fact it is a hybrid of almandine and pyrope. The high iron content also determines the colors found in this mineral: red and pink in any shade.

leucogranate

This is the general name for all minerals of this group, distinguished by their transparent color.

Chemical composition and physical properties

Garnets are silicates with a high content of magnesium, calcium and iron. Depending on the chemical composition, their individual types are classified as both precious and semi-precious, ornamental stones. The general formula of all these minerals looks like this: Mg+Fe+Mn+ +Ca+3Al23.

At the same time, each subspecies of pomegranate has its own chemical composition. It is the concentration of certain elements that determine the shades of garnet, density and shine.

Despite the number of varieties of stone, its properties in all “varieties” remain approximately the same.

Garnet molecules have a cubic lattice and form either rhombododecahedrons (closed compounds of 12 faces) or tetrahoptrioctahedra (24 faces).

Scientists divide all pomegranates into two main subspecies:

1. Pyralspite, which is dominated by iron, magnesium and manganese; form a 12-sided crystal lattice; This is exactly the structure of pyrope, spessarine and almadine.
2. Ugrandites, with a high calcium content (as in grossulars and andradites). The molecules of these gems are formed into tetrahoptrioctahedra.

The hardness of these gemstones ranges on a ten-point Mohs scale from 6.5 points (like hessonite) to 7.5 points (like almandine). Garnet can be easily polished with diamond, but if you run it across glass, it leaves a shallow scratch.

At the same time, it is quite fragile and easily breaks under a strong impact. So processing it is not such a simple matter.

The density of this mineral is low: on average from 3700 to 3930 kg per cubic meter.

The surface of the garnet is smooth to the touch, glassy. But the edges of the break, on the contrary, are uneven and rough.

In nature, this gem is found in medium-sized druses. These stones are not large. The largest garnet, a fire pyrope the size of a pigeon's egg, was discovered in Germany and weighed 633 carats.

Place of Birth

Garnets are mined all over the world. Their deposits are found on almost all continents, with the exception of Antarctica. Pomegranates are found in Russia, the USA, Germany, Mexico, Australia, Zambia, Brazil, India, Sri Lanka and some other countries.

In Russia, the largest deposits are located in Yakutia (very rare fiery red pyropes are mined there), on the Kola Peninsula, Chukotka and the Urals. It is the Ural mines that supply jewelers with a significant portion of green uvarovite.

In the USA, on the border of the states of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona, one of the most amazing types of this gem is mined: “Ant”, or “Arizona” garnet.

These tiny stones, no more than one and a half carats, are brought to the surface by ants when building their “palaces”. The surprising thing is that, despite all the efforts, it was not possible to detect these bright red granules using the mine method.

Who is suitable according to their zodiac sign?

Despite the fact that the magical properties of this stone are in many ways universal, astrologers advise people, before buying jewelry with garnet, to check whether their patron constellation is combined with the magical properties of the “fire” stone.

For those who decide to purchase a garnet stone, their zodiac sign is very important:

1. : Pyrope and other varieties of red garnets are strictly contraindicated for people born during this period. But hessonite, grossular and uvarovite will give their owner success in matters of the heart, help to remain faithful in separation and strengthen the sense of trust in their “soul mate”.
2. For Pisces This stone is an excellent remedy that helps normalize blood pressure and avoid infections. True, they also cannot carry red grenades.
3. Aries: Pomegranate is useful for them as a means to cope with temper and avoid quarrels. It also helps in the fight against various phobias.
4. Taurus You should not buy garnet jewelry.
5. Gemini you need to be careful with this stone: it not only gives self-confidence, but also gives rise to passions that are not easy for the ardent nature of Gemini to fight.
6. Cancer. For them, pomegranates are contraindicated, with the only exceptions being green varieties.
7. For Lviv products made from pomegranate are useless, although not dangerous.
8. Virgos this gemstone will help you find harmony and find your path in life.
9. Scales: They sometimes need pomegranate as a way to calm their nerves and subdue their impulses.
10. Scorpios this gem will help you moderate your ambitions, achieve peace of mind, and help you reach agreement in friendship. At the same time, garnet will help this sign develop their leadership abilities.
11. Sagittarius They will feel a surge of strength from this gem - both mental and physical.
12. Capricorns: pomegranate will help them gain self-confidence, give them strength and insight to make the right decision.

Who are the names suitable for?

It is extremely important to determine in advance, when buying a garnet stone, who this type of jewelry is suitable for and who is not. The element of garnets is fire (especially for pyropes and almandines), as well as earth and water. This stone also has patron planets: the Moon, Jupiter, Venus, Mars and the Sun.

Pomegranate is an excellent life talisman for people with the names:

• Alexandra (only for women - for Alexander men this mineral will be useless);
• Alla;
• Anton;
• Valeria;
• Basil
• Galina;
• Lyudmila;
• Maria;
• Nikita;
• and Tamara;

Magic properties

Few stones have as many mystical secrets as the garnet stone - magical properties have been attributed to it since ancient times, and even now many psychics use this mineral in their practices.

Pomegranate has long been considered a symbol of a strong spirit, a pure heart and high spiritual qualities. Therefore, gemologists advise people with weak character to carry garnet with them, so that this mineral will help them develop a strong inner core.

Since ancient times, this mineral personified love and other heartfelt feelings.

According to the medieval “language of stones,” giving a garnet item as a gift meant passionate (perhaps even unrequited) love. It was considered undesirable to wear garnet jewelry in the presence of children or teenagers, since this gem can awaken passions in a person.

At the same time, it was revered as a symbol of marital fidelity. It was believed that pomegranate gives success in love and helps preserve feelings in separation. It was often given to newlyweds as a wedding gift, and to families whose marriage is in danger of destruction, this stone is very useful.

The benefits of green varieties are especially great. Their energy helps strengthen family ties, and for a woman, in addition, serves as an assistant in “women’s concerns.”

The magic of these stones is also associated with the gift of clairvoyance. It is believed that if a pomegranate is dreamed of at night, then soon this person will have to resolve a serious problem or make a difficult choice.

Medicinal properties

The beneficial properties of pomegranate have been known to healers since ancient times.

In lithotherapy, this mineral is used for many diseases:

• inflammation;
• diseases of the respiratory system;
• skin diseases;
• allergies;
• metabolic disorders and endocrine diseases;
• and many other problems.

Legend has it that a garnet set in gold can even get rid of migraines (which modern medicine still cannot cope with).

Garnet stone is extremely useful for pregnant women: it is believed that it makes pregnancy more calm and guarantees an easy birth. In ancient times, jewelry was often made from this gem specifically for pregnant women.

Talismans and amulets

Since ancient times, people have used amulets made from this gem. For example, every traveler tried to take a garnet ring or pendant on the road.

The pomegranate is considered an amulet that can both preserve and win the love of another person. Scandinavian legend says that the miniature Ogren, having fallen in love with Freya, the goddess of love, forged a beautiful necklace in order to achieve her favor.

Another property attributed to pomegranate is especially important for men. It symbolizes masculinity, fortitude, and courage.

Many warriors wore jewelry made from this mineral, as it was considered a strong amulet that protected against wounds and death in battle. They inlaid weapons, armor, and helmets. And during the Crusades, almost every knight had a ring with a garnet, designed to protect it in battle.

Products made from garnet have very strong energy, because of this you should not wear it continuously, you should remove it from time to time and let it “rest”.

Decorations

Garnet is a stone whose jewelry has always been very popular. In the Middle Ages, beads, earrings or a pendant made of this mineral were sure to be in the box of any woman from a noble class.

Usually this gem is set in gold. However, it also looks good with silver; this combination is especially often used for low-quality garnets. After all, according to jewelry traditions, it is not customary to insert a semiprecious stone into gold jewelry.

Other uses of stone

Garnets were often present in the ceremonial clothes of courtiers, in the outfits of noble people, and even in the decoration of palaces. For example, the Chamber of Facets in the Kremlin is entirely inlaid with this very mineral. The famous jeweler Faberge was very fond of this mineral: many of his boxes and precious toys were made using garnet fragments.

These gemstones are widely used in various industries. Thus, garnet is an excellent ferromagnet, which is why it is used in electronics. It is also added to some building mixtures. Parts of optical systems and lasers can be made from this mineral (as well as from ruby).

Price

Garnet, despite its beauty, is not a very expensive stone.

The price of garnet stones depends on the quality and size and, of course, on the rarity of the color:

1. Amaldine can be bought for 1900 rubles per 1 carat.
2. Rhodolite – 1700 rubles.
3. The cost of pyrope starts from 1170 rubles.
4. Spessartine is considered one of the most expensive garnets. For example, a specimen weighing 4.7 carats is estimated at 35 thousand rubles.

But the price of a technical quality garnet stone starts from a few dollars per carat - for example, Nigerian stones for industry can be bought for 150-600 rubles per carat.

Many jewelry and handmade websites present summary tables that indicate the price (in rubles and dollars) for different types of garnet. So, earrings with a garnet stone in a gold frame can be bought starting from 7,000 rubles.

Care

Garnets are capricious minerals. They need to be stored in a dark, fairly cool (but not cold!) place. Each stone must be placed separately or wrapped in a piece of cloth. Separate boxes are required for jewelry made from these gems.

You can clean a garnet jewel with a soft brush. To do this, you need to fill the stones with water for a while, and then carefully wash them with soapy water.

There are several ways to identify a real garnet:

1. Take the stone to a jewelry store and ask for expert advice.
2. You can distinguish a garnet from a fake by rubbing it with a woolen cloth. Natural stone quickly becomes electrified - you can check this by passing it past fluff or your own hair.
3. Garnet has minor magnetic properties. You can check this using small metal shavings.
4. Another way to check the authenticity is to swipe it on the glass. Natural stone should leave a thin scratch on the glass.

Artificial pomegranate

Natural garnet is not such a rare mineral. However, modern scientists are making many attempts to “grow” these stones under artificial conditions. This is how synthetic silicate was created -. It was raised in the USSR in 1968 for the needs of nuclear energy.

This gem is distinguished by a variety of colors that natural garnets cannot boast of: for example, cubic zirconia is known for its incredible lavender hue - but in nature blue color is impossible for these minerals.

1. Red garnets - pyrope - are mentioned in Kuprin’s story “Garnet Bracelet”, where this decoration symbolizes unrequited, but sincere and pure love.
2. According to legend, a fire grenade was installed on the nose of Noah's Ark, lighting the way for the surviving people.

Photo

Main representatives (minerals) - garnet series

• Pyralspites
  • Pyrope Mg 3 Al 2 3 - from Greek. “pyropos” - similar to fire (due to the red color). The color is dark red. Found in ultramafic rocks rich in magnesium and their destruction products. Characteristic of diamondiferous rocks of South Africa and Yakutia.
  • Almandine Fe 2+ 3 Al 2 3 - by the name of the area - Alamanda (Asia Minor). Color red, brown, purple. The most common of pomegranates. Common in crystalline schists and gneisses.
  • Spessartine Mn 3 Al 2 3 - named Spessart (Bavaria, Germany). Color pink, red, yellowish-brown. Found in pegmatites and crystalline schists (Eastern Siberia, Karelia).
• Ugrandites
• "Hypothetical" grenades. The hypothetical members of the garnet series are not found in pure form, but may form a significant proportion in natural minerals.
  • Knorringitis Mg 3 Cr 2 (SiO 4) 3.
  • Calderite Mn 3 Fe 2 (SiO 4) 3.
  • Skiagit Fe 3 Fe 2 (SiO 4) 3.
  • Goldmanite Ca 3 V 2 (SiO 4) 3.

Based on the nature of isomorphic substitutions, two series have been identified, which are divided into series:

1. Series of pyralspites (magnesium-iron-manganese garnets): pyrope, almandine, spessartine.
2. A series of ugrandites (calcium garnets), including three series: the grossular-andradite series (the most common), the andradite-uvarovite series and the andradite-shorlomite series.

The second series includes garnets in which part is replaced by 4 - the so-called hydrogarnets. Separate names are assigned to garnets with 75 mol.% of the corresponding component. There are limited isomorphic substitutions between garnets of the two series.

Historical review

Already by the beginning of the 16th century, several varieties of garnets were distinguished in Russia, and until the 19th century, two main names were assigned to them: “bechet” and “venisa”, which they tried to correctly identify and separate from other, more expensive varieties of red transparent gems. The Trade Book directly warned merchants: “You can’t buy bechet for lal. The nobility is drawn to the color: it’s like bubbles.”. Or here’s another recommendation from the same “Trading Book”: “And take care that they don’t sell you vinis for lal; and the vinisa stone is red, and its color is runny". Here both varieties of garnet are mentioned in contrast to lalu, which in those days was the name given to red noble spinel, a stone rarer and more expensive than pyropes or almandines. :10
The word “venisa” mentioned several times (or vinis) comes from the distorted (Russified) Persian “benefse”, which means purple. Al-Biruni in his “Mineralogy” more than once noticed that the red color of garnets is not without a violet (lilac) tint. And in fact, under different lighting conditions, the color can change from fiery red to almost purple.
As for “bechet” (or bechet), then his name goes back to the Arabic name for almandine garnets - “bijazi”. At one time, the medieval scholastic scientist Albert the Great, at his own discretion, translated the Arabic word “bijazi” into learned Latin as "granatus", in other words - grainy. Thus, he emphasized the characteristic feature of natural garnetites. Their red (or not red) fused crystals very often resemble juicy pomegranate fruits. :11-12 The same “trading book” said: “... when a stone sweeps, it cheers the heart and drives away sadness and inappropriate thoughts, increases reason and honor...”

Under the unifying name “worm-shaped yacht” in Rus', a variety of (transparent) red stones were known: among them there was a real oriental ruby, and garnets of all stripes, and there was also Ceylon hyacinth (a brown variety of zircon, which was called iokinthos). Starting from the 16th century, the bloody Bohemian garnet also came to Rus', which, according to Boethius de Boot, the author of a famous work on stones (1609), was formed from frozen water drops, colored with bloody vapor. :63-64 Red noble spinel under the name Lala was also in great use among our ancestors, who did not mix this stone with yakhont.

Properties

Applications and deposits

Garnets are used in the abrasive (garnet skins, powders and grinding wheels) and construction industries (additives to cement and ceramic masses), sometimes as a substitute for sapphire and ruby ​​in instrument making, in electronics (as a ferromagnet). For industrial needs, methods are being developed for the synthesis of artificial analogues of some garnets with specified properties: crystals for lasers (Nd:YAG laser). Mostly ferrous garnets (mainly almandine), less commonly spessartine and andradite, are suitable for the abrasive industry. Of great importance for determining the suitability of garnets in industry are their high hardness, the ability, when crushed, to split into particles with sharp-angled cutting edges, and adhesion to paper and linen bases.

Transparent and translucent, beautifully colored garnets are used in jewelry. Gemstones usually include the following (in order of increasing value: almandine, pyrope, rhodolite, hessonite, grossular, topazolite, demantoid. Well-designed crystals, brushes and druses make excellent collection material. The most popular crystals are opaque and translucent almandine, homogeneous or zonal structures painted in dark cherry, brownish-brown and brownish-red colors. The source of such crystals and ores is most often sillimanite-containing quartz-biotite schists (Kitelya deposits in Karelia, Makzabak on the Kola Peninsula, Russia; Fort Wrangel, USA, etc. ) And to a lesser extent muscovite-beryl granite pegmatites (Ukraine, Russia; Madagascar; Brazil).

Crystal intergrowths and druses of andradite and hessonite from deposits in calcareous skarns (Dashkesan in Azerbaijan and the Sinerechenskoye deposit of collectible andradite in Primorye) are characterized by high decorativeness. Beautiful almandine intergrowths are found in crystalline schists at the Shchueretskoye deposit in Karelia.

Brushes of small (1-5 mm) shiny garnet crystals, mainly andradite, look very impressive. Of increased value are brushes of rare and beautifully colored varieties of andradite - green demantoid and honey-yellow topazolite, covering the walls of mineralized cracks in ultramafic rocks (Tamvatney deposit in Chukotka, etc.). A relatively rare and highly valued decorative collection material is brushes of emerald green uvarovite, developing in cracks of chromite ores. The sizes of uvarovite crystals in diameter usually do not exceed 1.0 mm, and brushes containing individuals 3 mm or more in size are considered unique. The bulk of uvarovite collection brushes are mined at the Saranovskoe chromite deposit in the Urals. Abroad, manifestations of uvarovite are known in Finland and Canada.

Kimberlite garnets included in the rock may have a certain collection value. These are mainly purple-red, red and orange-red chromium-containing pyropes of peridotite paragenesis (with a knorringite or uvarovite component) and orange calcium-containing pyrope-almandines of eclogite paragenesis.

The most important are deposits associated with metamorphic crystalline schists, gneisses and amphibolites (deposits of Karelia, etc.). The world's largest reserves of garnet raw materials are confined to crystalline metamorphic rocks that make up the Keivsky ridge on the Kola Peninsula. Placer garnet deposits are usually small in size and reserves. Contact-metasomatic and igneous deposits, with rare exceptions, have no practical significance.

Synthetic grenades

Since the late 1930s, the American company Bell Telephone has established a department for the research and cultivation of pomegranates as a separate area of ​​its activity. In 1950, H.-S. Yoder re-synthesized grossular. Christophe Michel-Levy grew spessartine and grossular. In 1955, after many years of painstaking work, mineralogists L. Kos and H.-S. Yoder finally successfully synthesized pyrope (a known satellite of diamond) and almandine. However, this success was, in part, anecdotal. To synthesize artificial garnets, sophisticated technological equipment was required, capable of creating pressure up to 3 gigapascals at temperatures up to 1300 kelvins. The size of the resulting garnets was quite decent; they could be cut into a jewelry insert for a ring. But at cost they were not even gold, but rather platinum. Perhaps the cost of a trip to India and back (to buy a large natural stone there at the local bazaar) would be lower than one synthetic garnet obtained by Bell. However, the efforts of scientists were not in vain. The main thing is that a powerful foundation was laid for future experiments and research in this area. Work on growing artificial crystals continued.

Back in the late 1940s, the same Yoder, in collaboration with M.L. Keith, made a discovery, the thread from which led in the other direction. Using chemical analysis, yttrium (a rare earth metal, number 39 in the periodic table) was discovered in spessartines from some deposits. In the crystal lattice it replaced part of the manganese, while part of the silicon was simultaneously replaced by aluminum atoms. Not content with simply stating a fact, Keith and Yoder set a task: to synthesize pure yttrium garnet by removing manganese and silicon from the crystal. Could this make it possible to create a new mineral consisting of aluminum and yttrium? :168 In 1951, an article describing the properties of the new crystal appeared in the Journal of the American Mineralogical Society. Its hardness was higher than that of natural garnets: 8.5 on the Mohs scale (roughly between topaz and ruby), refractive index 1.835, and dispersion close to diamond (0.032). The new synthetic crystal was given the name yttrogarnet by its authors, although the name did not stick. To this day it continues to be called yttrium-aluminum garnet. (IAG). But its properties aroused much greater enthusiasm among mineralogists. Experiments began on the artificial growth of YAG crystals. With the hydrothermal method, the growth of garnets turned out to be extremely slow, 0.05 millimeters per day. Then they tried the pegmatite process. With it, it was possible to quickly obtain fairly large and pure crystals (up to 5 centimeters), but some flaws in the method did not allow it to be introduced into mass production. There was only the last, magmatic method left. In the end, by the method of errors and trials, it was possible to obtain pure yttrogarnets on an industrial scale using the improved Lichtman-Maslennikov method. After the American J. Pfann more deeply (in a practical way) developed the theory of the process of zonal crystal purification in 1952, the new method found the widest application in the industrial cultivation of synthetic stones (not only garnets).