We usually associate garnet with the so-called Czech garnet and its dark red colour. But apart from blue, it abounds in all colours and can bring us out of our pessimistic moods. Meet hessonite, tsavorite, andradite, demantoid and others.
The hessonite variety of garnet is cinnamon-coloured due to the addition of magnesium and has received its name from the Greek "eson", meaning smaller. This is a reference to its lesser value, unlike the similar zircon. Mentally, hessonite is a hearty help in quelling pessimistic moods, boosting self-confidence, encouraging perspective, and relieving nervousness. Medically, it balances the regulation of thyroid hormones. Strengthens kidneys and liver, joints and flabby muscles. In Bohemia, hessonite can be found in a quarry near Žulová in the Jeseníky Mountains and the most famous foreign deposits are in Sri Lanka, Russia and Spain.
Quiets pessimistic moods
Another variety of grosular is the emerald green tsavorite, which is found mainly in Tanzania in the Tsavo National Park, but also in Kenya, Mali and Uzbekistan. As with other garnets, its virtue is to boost life energy and support in overcoming difficult times in life. Health-wise, its help is also abundant in inflammations of the skin and mucous membranes, weakening of sight, hearing, touch and smell, long chronic illnesses and convalescence. It is effective in bone diseases such as osteoporosis.
Andradite is named after the naturalist d'Andrade, who described it in 1800. It has deposits in Mexico, on the island of Serifos in Greece, in Alaska and in Chibiny on the Kola Peninsula in Russia. In Bohemia in the skarns near Malešov and Vlastějovice and in the erlans near Bludov. It promotes creativity, intuition and the desire to keep one's resolutions, reduces fears of potency failure and feelings of depression. It supports life energy, helps with delayed and irregular menstruation.
A rare variety of andradite is a sharp green demantoid, first found in the Central Urals. It is often referred to as the Uralic emerald because of its appearance due to the admixture of chromium. Other deposits are in Val Malenco in Italy, Madagascar and Arizona in the USA. Even rarer than demantoid is the honey and golden yellow topazolite, similar in colour and clarity to topaz. However, the size of the crystals is not found in jewellery quality. It occurs in Bavaria, Austria and Namibia. Psychically, these stones promote creativity, positive feelings and self-esteem, health-wise they strengthen the kidneys and liver, relieve inflammation and rid us of poisons and impurities. They regulate metabolism and protect against arteriosclerosis.
The sharp green demantoid is referred to as the Ural emerald
Another well-known variety is melanite, a stone of deep black colour due to a large admixture of titanium, used as a jewel for mourning occasions. Its name is derived from the Greek "melan" - black. Unlike other garnets, its occurrence is linked to young igneous rocks. It is found in Germany near Kaiserstuhl or near Freiburg in Baden, but also in Italy near Frascati, in Vesuvius, in Mali, in Mexico and in the USA. In Bohemia on Marianska Gora. It is mainly a stone of sorrow and forgiveness, but it also helps in situations where we are troubled by loss of conscience. It strengthens constancy and perseverance. Health-wise, it strengthens bone growth, especially of the spine, and by massage it helps with back pain.
Spessartin is named after the first described site in the Bavarian Alps in the Spessart mountains near Aschaffenburg. It forms crystals in granite and pegmatites there. There are also known deposits in the USA, Brazil and Madagascar. There are beautifully developed crystals from the Gilgit region in Pakistan and from Sri Lanka.
It promotes sleep, calms wild dreams and depressive feelings, and helps to talk openly when dealing with these issues. It promotes warmth and compassion. Stimulates the heart, immune system, sexual mood, heart and blood pressure, and strengthens digestion.
World famous occurrences of emerald green uvarovite are in the Urals in Russia, but also in South Africa, Turkey, Iran, Ethiopia and Oregon in the USA. It heals our senses and feelings, promotes optimism and creativity, and the desire to explore new things. It is health promoting for the pancreas, kidney function and thus ridding the body of toxic fumes. It helps with inflammations and lowering of temperatures.
Article published with kind permission of the magazine Sphere
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