Garnet: History, Origin, Composition, Virtues, Significance and Recharging of the stone

Garnet is a stone known the world over for its beauty and is very popular in the jewelry world. Its unique colors and multiple varieties make this stone a precious and highly prized element. What's more, its virtues in lithotherapy bring many benefits to people lacking vitality and love.

History of the garnet stone

Garnet comes from the Latin "malum granatum", meaning "fruit of the pomegranate". Its intense colors strongly resemble the fruit's seeds. Garnet stone was also known by another term, "escarboucle", which came from the Latin "scarabattum" to mean a dark-red stone. However, this term is now more commonly used outside of historical studies.

Garnet was quite difficult to differentiate from other red stones such as Spinel or Ruby. The garnet stone has a history closely linked with religions and beliefs. In the Bible, Garnet was used as Noah's light to help him find his way through the darkness.

In the Koran, garnet is associated with the fourth heaven. For the Vikings, the stone was used to guide the dead to Valhalla, the afterlife. Crusaders wore the stone under their armor to protect them on their journeys.

Hunzakuts warriors used this garnet stone as ammunition to amplify their deadly powers. The Egyptians, Romans and Greeks used garnet to make powder and polish stones. In addition, they often used the stone to carve animal or face shapes.

In the 19th century, Europe turned its attention to garnet, which was used for jewelry, art and decorative objects. Today, this stone is mainly used to adorn jewelry or for its lithotherapy aspects.

Origin and composition of garnet

Garnet belongs to the Silicate family. More precisely, it belongs to the iron aluminum silicates with the chemical formula Fe3Al2Si3O12. Its density varies between 3.5 and 4.3, depending on the garnet variety.

Garnet stone is generally formed in subduction zones, in intraplate magmas due to high temperatures and pressure and/or in alluvial deposits. There are many varieties of garnet in the world, each formed by different impurities:

• Almandine garnet, contains chromium and iron to obtain its dark red to purple color,
• Pyrope garnet, contains chromium and magnesium for its bright red color,
• Rhodolite garnet, contains manganese and iron to give its violet-red color,
• Hessonite garnet, contains manganese and iron to give its yellow to brown color,
• Spessartite garnet, contains iron, magnesium and manganese to give its orange to red color,
• Demantoid garnet, contains chromium and iron for a bright peridot green color,
• Tsavorite garnet, contains chromium and iron to obtain its bright green color,
• Uvarovite garnet, contains chromium to obtain its vivid emerald-green color.

Origin of garnet stone

The main garnet deposits are found in the USA, India, Russia, Madagascar, Brazil, Afghanistan and Pakistan. But the biggest deposits are in Africa: Tanzania, Namibia and Ethiopia.

The hardness of garnet stone is around 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. This varies from one garnet to another.

Virtues and significance of garnet in lithotherapy

Garnet is a stone of energy, action and motivation.

Garnet in lithotherapy

On a physical level, Garnet stimulates energy for people who are very tired or discouraged, i.e. it improves the body's energy and vitality. The stone improves blood circulation, the immune system and the digestive system. Garnet also relieves muscle and joint pain.

Psychologically, Garnet brings emotional benefits such as love and empathy. It also stimulates creativity, passion and self-confidence, and reduces stress and anxiety. Finally, the stone improves communication and brings greater clarity of mind.

Please note that lithotherapy is not a substitute for medical treatment or expertise.

Significance of the Garnet stone

Garnet symbolizes energy and courage.

It is often associated with the root chakra to bring greater energy, stability and dynamism. The chakra also improves blood circulation. Garnet is also linked to the solar plexus chakra, which reinforces a sense of power, self-confidence and leadership.

It is attributed to the astrological signs of Scorpio, Aries, Taurus, Virgo and Libra. Garnet is associated with the birth month of January and is the perfect 2-year wedding anniversary stone.

Garnet stone care, purification and recharging

Garnet stone cleaning and purification

There are several ways to clean and purify your Garnet stones:

Clear water, by running it under lukewarm clear water and gently cleaning it with a cloth, Salt water, in a bowl of slightly salted lukewarm water for 15 minutes and rinsing with clear water to clean it properly, Quartz clusters, to be placed next to the stone overnight to purify it, Incense, by placing Garnet next to auction smoke for 15 minutes to purify it.

Garnet stone recharging

To recharge your Garnet stone, we recommend the following:

Place your stone under the sun's rays for around 20 minutes. If left too long, the stone may deteriorate. Place under the moon's rays overnight, or place the stone next to a cluster of quartz.