Home >> Science & Nature >> Rocks & Minerals

How do I Identify a Mali Garnet?

Discovered in Mali, Africa in late 1994, the Mali stone is a gemstone that forms with a rare composition of the Andradite garnet. It's available in a wide range of colors as well as the Grossular garnet, which takes on its color by the impurities within the stone--such as yellow, green, orange and brown. The Andradite is a calcium iron silicate and the Grossular is a calcium aluminum silicate, which also has a swirl-like inclusion made by tiny crystals within the stone. The Mali garnet ranges in price and quality; stones without any enhancement can reach as high as $10,000 per karat.

Things You'll Need

Jeweler's magnifier

Instructions

- 1
  Look through the stone for any inclusions with a jeweler's magnifier, also referred to as the jeweler's loupe. Inclusions are "internal features of gemstones that have become enclosed during or after formation," according to the Firefly Guide to Gems. You can not see stones with light natural inclusions with the naked eye.
- 2
  Look at the color of the stone. Although most Mali garnets have a strong brown to yellow component, very fine and rare Mali stones have a natural medium dark yellow-green tone. According to Awesomegems.com, "All are a bright, uniform light yellowish green."
- 3
  Look for the brightness of the garnet. The Mali gemstone has a high shine and brilliance. Any dull or shading is an indicator that the stone is not real and inauthentic. This gemstone has a high refraction of light and will make it shine vividly even if the lighting conditions are not favorable.
- 4
  Look at the stone's hardness. Most gems have a crystalline structure. Crystals have planes of symmetry and are divided into seven symmetry systems. The Mali garnet has a hardness of seven, making it a desirable stone for jewelry designs such as pendant necklaces and rings.
- 5
  Look at the shape. Mining of these stones takes place in alluvial deposits. It has a rounded water worn shape, which is typical of the mined source.

Rocks & Minerals