What Is Garnet? A Mineral Group, Not One Stone

Garnet isn't one mineral — it's a group of silicate minerals that share the same crystal structure but differ in chemistry. Almandine and pyrope, often blended in the same stone, produce the deep red most people picture when they hear "garnet." Other members of the group produce entirely different colors: grossular garnet can be green (tsavorite) or orange, and andradite garnet includes demantoid, a green variety once prized by Fabergé.

Garnet deposits occur on every continent, with notable sources in India, several African countries, and the United States. It's the traditional birthstone for January — fittingly, given how many colors within the group there are to choose from.