Description

Garnet is included in a group of minerals that have been used since the Bronze Age as gemstones and abrasives.  Garnets are most often as seen in red but are available in a wide variety of colors spanning the entire color spectrum except blue.  There are six common species of Garnet that are recognized by their chemical composition:  Pyrope, Almandine, Spessartite, Grossular, which includes Hessonite and Tsavorite, Uvarovite and Andradite.

Astrophyllite is a very rare, brown to golden yellow hydrous potassium iron titanium silicate mineral. The name comes from the Greek words astron meaning “star” and phyllon meaning “leaf.” sharply with the light-colored matrix the mineral is regularly found within. Astrophyllite is usually opaque to translucent but may be transparent in thin specimens. The mineral is mostly interesting for scientists and collectors, though sometimes it is also used in jewelry where it is fashioned into cabochons.