New York State Gemstone or Gem

Garnet

Almandite: iron aluminium silicate, 3FeO . Al₂O₃ . 3Si₂
Pyrope: magnesium aluminium silicate
Spessartite: manganese aluminium silicate
Andradite: calcium iron silicate.
Grossular: calcium aluminium silicate
Uvarovite: calcium chromium silicate

Adopted in 1969

The garnet was adopted as the State gem in 1969. Garnets are used in jewelry and are a dark red color. One of the largest garnet mines in the world is located on Gore Mountain in the Adirondacks. Most garnet is used as an industrial abrasive, but occasionally gem quality stones are found. Garnet's hard, sharp features make it excellent for grinding lenses and for polishing glass and metal.

The name garnet comes from the Latin word for pomegranate, malum granatum, due to the resemblance of some varieties of garnet to red pomegranate seeds. Their use as gems has a history that goes back to the ancient Egyptians.

The word "garnet" is believed to have come from the Greek word "granatum," or pomegranate seed, because ancient jewelry makers grouped the tiny gemstones in a cluster that resembled the seed-filled fruit. Deep red in color, almandine garnet is the most popular gem in the garnet family. Occasionally deep enough red to appear black, almandine garnet is sometimes hollowed in order to let light shine through the stone, highlighting its red color. Garnet displays the greatest variety of color of any mineral, occurring in every color except blue.