The garnet derives its name from the Latin GRANATUS, grain-like. Mr. King gives Granatici, from its resemblance to the scarlet pomegranate blossom. It is found written as garnet, gernet, garnette, garnat, garnet or garnat stone.
The mineral group passing under the general name of garnet exhibits some distinct peculiarities which, adopting the classification given by Professor James Dana, can be considered under three heads, as follows:
Alumina Garnet Iron Garnet Chrome Garnet
ALUMINA GARNET
The sesquioxide base is chiefly aluminium.
(a) IRON ALUMINA GARNET
Shades of colour: Red, ruby red, hyacinth red, columbine red, brownish red. Precious garnet is translucent, common is not. Example, Almandine or Carbuncle. Astrologically classed under the celestial Sagittarius.
(b) LIME ALUMINA GARNET
Shades of colour: Pale green, cinnamon, amber. Example: Essonite or Cinnamon Stone is cinnamon coloured; Grossularite (Latin GROSSULARIA, a gooseberry), is pale green; Succinite (Latin SUCCINUM, amber), is of the colour of amber. The Grossularite is a health talisman, the Succinite a charm for securing harmony and success in dealing with employees. They are both under the Celestial Virgo.
(c) MAGNESIA ALUMINA GARNET