Grossular Garnet - China - 1.2 cm / 1.7 g / AX494 crystal minerals

Grossular garnets belong to the silicate group and the garnet family. They are calcium aluminosilicates with the formula Ca3Al2(SiO4)3.

Grossular garnets are green to red and their name comes from the Latin meaning "currant" in analogy with the color of this ripe or unripe fruit.

There are about fifteen species. Depending on the case, they will contain manganese, magnesium, aluminum, iron, calcium, chromium, titanium, zirconium, vanadium or silicon associated with silicon dioxide.

Garnets are usually green, red, or brown in color, but they also come in a variety of colors or are colorless. Garnets are most often dodecahedral or trapezoidal in shape.