Introduction: Grandite or Mali Garnet is a variety in the garnet family within the grossular-andradite solid solution series.
Colors: yellow, brown, yellow-green, green
Clarity: Mali garnets or grandites are of clarity Type II. Gems in this type typically grow with some minor inclusions in nature that may be eye visible but usually are well hidden or require magnification.
Stone Sizes: Typically sizes don’t exceed 5 ct
Localities: Mali, discovered in 1994
Treatments: None
Gemology:
-Refractive Index: 1.735 (+/-0.015)
-Birefringence: None (singly refractive)
-Optic Character: Singly refractive
-Specific Gravity: 3.65
-Hardness: 7
-Toughness: Fair to good
-Chemical Composition: Ca3Al2(SiO4)3
-Cause of color: iron
-Absorption Spectra: a cutoff at 4150, a band between 4400 and 4500 and a faint line at 5000;
occasional faint lines seen at 4890, 5030 and 5290
-Fluorescence: None
-Cleavage: None
-Phenomena: None
Name: Mali garnet is simply named after the country of origin.
Dates: All species of garnets can be used as the birthstone for January. Garnets are also the gem of choice for second anniversaries.
Care: Ultrasonics are usually safe but risky with liquid inclusions. Steam cleaners should never be used. The safest method for cleaning is with warm soapy water. Abrupt temperature changes will likely cause fracturing.
To see available Mali garnets, click here.