January Birthstones - Garnet & Emerald

January Birthstones - Garnet & Emerald

Garnet is the Traditional, Modern and Ayurvedic Birthstone for January. The name "garnet" may come from either the Middle English word gernet meaning 'dark red', or the Latin granatus ("grain"), possibly a reference to the Punica granatum ("pomegranate"), a plant with red seeds similar in shape, size, and color to some garnet crystals. Six common species of garnet are recognized by their chemical composition. They are pyrope, almandine, spessartine, grossular (varieties of which are hessonite or cinnamon-stone and tsavorite), uvarovite and andradite. Garnet has a Mohs scale hardness of 6.0 to 7.5 and can is found in many colors including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, black, pink and colorless.

Emerald is the Mystical Birthstone for January. Emeralds are a variety of the mineral beryl (Be3Al2(SiO3)6,) colored green by trace amounts of chromium and sometimes vanadium.[1] Beryl has a hardness of 7.5 - 8 on the 10 point Mohs scale of mineral hardness.[1] Most emeralds are highly included, so their toughness (resistance to breakage) is classified as generally poor. The word "emerald" comes from Latin smaragdus, via Greek smaragdos, its original source being a Semitic word izmargad or the Sanskrit word, marakata, meaning "emerald" or "green".

See more Garnets & Emeralds here.

Garnet - Harmonizing Relationships

Garnet

Garnets species are found in many colors including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, black, pink and colorless. Because the chemical composition of garnet varies, the atomic bonds in some species are stronger than in others. As a result, this mineral group shows a range of hardness on the Mohs Scale of about 6.5 to 7.5. The harder species, like almandine, are often used for abrasive purposes.

Six common species of garnet are recognized based on their chemical composition. They are pyrope, almandine, spessartine, grossular (varieties of which are hessonite or cinnamon-stone and tsavorite), uvarovite and andradite. They crystallize in the cubic system, having three axes that are all of equal length and perpendicular to each other. Garnets do not show cleavage, so when they fracture under stress, sharp irregular pieces are formed. It is the birthstone for January. It is the state mineral of Connecticut. It is also New York's gemstone.

As a stone intuitive, I feel that gemstones vibrate and the vibrations can help us on our life path. Metaphysically garnet is said to bring prosperity and harmony to family relationships. Garnet is the stone of passionate devotion. To your family, your friends, yourself, and your purpose or goals. This stone enhances charisma, bringing out the wearer's best qualities.

What a wonderful stone energy for families! It can be particularly helpful in challenging times for families. For instance, blending a family. I just discovered this blog: shwanda.com about Carol Shwanda & her blended family of herself, her husband and their five kids, two boys and three girls!