A mineral having many varieties differing in color and in their constituents, but with the same crystallization (isometric), and conforming to the same general chemical formula. The commonest color is red, the luster is vitreous, and the hardness greater than that of quartz. The dodecahedron and trapezohedron are the common forms.

A hard stone of silicate minerals, which occur as well-formed crystals in metamorphic rock. Red garnets are normally used in jewelry, with the ordinary varieties crushed and used as abrasives.

Family of minerals including six varieties of similar red gemstone, namely: pyrope (rhodolite), almandine, grossular, andradite (demantoid), spessartite, and uvarovite. The most common garnets used for jewellery are the very dark red pyrope or Bohemian stones, which are usually rose-cut (see jewel cutting) or, on bead necklaces, naturally faceted, and almandine garnets which are usually cut en cabochon (and known as carbuncles) or emerald-cut.

A group of silicate minerals (examples include almandine, pyrope, spessartine and grossular). They have very variable compositions, with different proportions of two/three of Fe, Mg, Mn, Al Ca and very rarely Ch. They are found most commonly in metamorphic rocks - commonly as rather hard stubs.