| The
dispersion of Grossular garnet is higher than
most other gems, and properly cut gems have tremendous
brilliance and color. The other garnet species
also have considerable dispersion, but their body
color is usually so dark that the dispersion colors
are masked. Typical Grossular colors are colorless,
pale green, yellowish-green, and cinnamon-brown,
as well as orange, yellow, and a deep green resembling
the color of fine emerald.
This
latter garnet, discovered in recent years in Tanzania
and Kenya, is colored by vanadium. Grossular,
however, is less fragile than emerald, and is
also more brilliant. Vanadium Grossular is extremely
scarce, and stones weighing more than five carats
may sell for more than $1,000 per carat.
Localities
for Grossular span the world. Gem material comes
from Sri Lanka, Canada (Quebec), Switzerland,
South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, and East Africa.
Andradite is a brown or green garnet that commonly
forms in lime¬ stones. Occasionally andradites
are seen on the market, but usually they are cut
for collectors only. An exception to this is the
rare, desirable, and beautiful green gem of the
variety known as demantoid. Demantoid are extremely
scarce and in constant demand by collectors of
rare gems. |
