Where is Grossular Garnet found?
Ca3Al2(SiO4)3
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Open the appGrossular Garnet occurs in specific geological environments. Knowing where to look, and in what kind of rock, is the difference between going home empty-handed and finding a great specimen.
Where to find Grossular Garnet
Kenya and Tanzania
These East African countries are famous for producing high-quality tsavorite (green grossular), particularly in the Taita-Taveta region of Kenya and the Arusha region of Tanzania.
Canada
Quebec and British Columbia have localities known for producing grossular, including some fine hessonite and green varieties.
Mexico
Mexico is a notable source of orange to yellow grossular, often found in skarn deposits.
United States
Localities in Vermont, California, and Alaska have produced grossular garnet, including some gem-quality material.
Italy
The Val d'Ala in Piedmont is a classic locality for grossular, often found in serpentinites.
Sri Lanka
Known for producing hessonite (orange-brown grossular) from alluvial deposits.
Collecting tips
- Target Metamorphic Terrains. Focus your search on areas with known occurrences of regionally or contact metamorphosed calcareous rocks, such as marble, calc-silicate rocks, and skarns.
- Look for Associated Minerals. Grossular often co-occurs with other calc-silicate minerals like diopside, wollastonite, vesuvianite, epidote, and calcite. The presence of these minerals can indicate a favorable environment.
- Examine Outcrops and Stream Beds. In metamorphic terrains, examine rock outcrops for characteristic crystal forms. In alluvial environments, grossular's hardness and density mean it can be found in stream gravels and placers.
- Check for Crystal Habits. Keep an eye out for the distinctive dodecahedral or trapezohedral crystal forms, even if they are small or embedded in the matrix.
- Color Variation. Be aware of the wide range of colors grossular can exhibit. Don't limit your search to just green or orange; colorless, yellow, and brown varieties are also common.
Quick Check
- Color:
- Variable (colorless, white, yellow, orange, brown, green)
- Luster:
- Vitreous to resinous
- Streak:
- White
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