Garnet Beads

Hardness: 6.5-7.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Deep red, reddish-brown, purplish-red, often with a slightly translucent appearance; Luster: Vitreous to resinous; Crystal structure: Isometric (dodecahedral or trapezohedral forms, though these are polished beads); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 3.5-4.3

Garnets form under high temperature and/or pressure conditions. Common in metamorphic rocks like schist and gneiss, often forming in contact metamorphic aureoles around igneous intrusions. They can also be found in some igneous rocks like granites, pegmatites, and kimberlites. Geological age varies widely depending on the specific formation event, from Precambrian to Cenozoic.

Primarily used as gemstones in jewelry, especially for their rich red color. Lower quality garnets or fine-grained varieties are used as industrial abrasives (sandpaper, waterjet cutting), and in sandblasting media due to their hardness and toughness. They are also used as filtration media.

The term 'garnet' refers to a group of silicate minerals rather than a single mineral, with differing chemical compositions but similar crystal structures. The red varieties, like those pictured, are often almandine or pyrope. Bohemian garnet from the Czech Republic has been prized for centuries. Garnet is the birthstone for January.

In the field, garnets typically appear as well-formed dodecahedral or trapezohedral crystals embedded in metamorphic rocks. Their hardness distinguishes them from many other red minerals. The beads shown are likely made from almandine or pyrope garnet. Identifying carved and polished beads in the field is impossible, but if the original rock were found, the distinctive crystal structure and hardness would be key. Commonly found in India, Sri Lanka, Brazil, the USA, and many African countries. For collectors, the variety of colors and compositions within the garnet group offers diverse specimens. To identify these beads specifically, one would look for the characteristic deep red to purplish-red color, vitreous luster, and feel of considerable weight due to their high specific gravity.