Gem I.D. Help- Garnet-Related

[BurntBear]

My partner has several specimens that we were told were Garnet by a gemologist and a geologist. I've never seen Garnets in Hexagonal shapes! What are your thoughts?

I'm thinking a Beryl covered in a metallic substance. They appear very dark brown, but I believe that is the coating. They are not translucent and I think that's due to whatever the substance is that is coating them.

 

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In July we were on a claim and a guy found a garnet coated with pyrite. A lot of garnets were there (like tons) but this was the only one I saw with pyrite. Small, about 1/4" across.
It resembled your stone.

 

[Jim in Idaho]

Don't look like garnet to me. Specific gravity comparison would be conclusive. Garnet 3.5-4.3, Beryl 2.6-2.9
Jim

 

[Eu_citzen]

A Rhombic dodecahedron can from a certain angle look hexagonal-ish. But I'm not sure since I see no crystal faces that would resemble that shape.
Did they just look at it or do any tests?

 

[BurntBear]

We had so many specimens to show them, they just "eyed" these specimens. Some of the specimens are definitely dodecahedron in shape; others, like the one pictured are clearly hexagonal.

 

[Eu_citzen]

You should do a hardness test to limit possibilities. Did you ask the geologist why he thought garnet? Or even ask him to take a closer look?

 

[BurntBear]

Headed to see the geologist/cutter on Wednesday, I believe. Should have an update then. Thanks for looking!

 

[DDancer]

Curious to see what the verdict is. I've never seen a garnet facet that way. I'm more inclined to think its some form of beryl.

 

[Brian T. Booth]

My partner has several specimens that we were told were Garnet by a gemologist and a geologist. I've never seen Garnets in Hexagonal shapes! What are your thoughts? I'm thinking a Beryl covered in a metallic substance. They appear very dark brown, but I believe that is the coating. They are not translucent and I think that's due to whatever the substance is that is coating them. <img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1054346"/> <img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1054347"/> <img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1054348"/> <img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1054349"/>

Corundum.

 

[DDancer]

I don't know about corundum~ that usually shows some tapering as well as layering on the outside facets. The look of this is to smooth and uniform. With the mix of what was found I'm curious why pyrites were associated with the mix~ that's unusual to me.

 

[BurntBear]

I'm going to have to agree with that DDancer. Very unusual, super smooth texture. I'm not ruling corundum out. I will know tomorrow.

I'm dropping off a 33 ct. Star Ruby to be cut tomorrow. It will be our first cut star specimen from North Carolina.

This is the beast.

 

[DDancer]

Wish you luck with that one its got some shine in it hope you get some nice pieces out of it.

I'm not ruling out corundum either~ I'm also curious about the internal fracturing shown in the bottom of the piece. Almost looks like other crystals within the main body. I've only ever seen smooth corundum crystals come out of Ceylon.

 

[BurntBear]

Thanks! Yeah, the corundum in this area is usually very rough looking in hexagonal crystals. The alluvial deposits are beautiful; but the hexagonal crystals I've seen pictures of that come out of the mines of this area are a lil' ugly, lol. I haven't been to any of those mines or gem mining places other than to have specimens cut.

 

[BurntBear]

Wish you luck with that one its got some shine in it hope you get some nice pieces out of it.

I'm not ruling out corundum either~ I'm also curious about the internal fracturing shown in the bottom of the piece. Almost looks like other crystals within the main body. I've only ever seen smooth corundum crystals come out of Ceylon.

I was curious about that myself. I found a spot where a little light got through and it seems like a wine-red/gold color.

 

[BurntBear]

Conclusion:


Garnet

 

[DDancer]

Well that's a horse of a different color Was there an explanation as to why it exhibits that structure? Pretty cool.

 

[BurntBear]

That's what I said, lol. Nope, he said that Garnet has a way of making unusual shapes. He's right there! I guess that explains the wine-red/gold color I caught a peek of.

Also, the Star Sapphire I showed in the last page that I took to get cut is actually a Star Ruby!

 

[DDancer]

Be pretty neat if you could find larger specimens like that. It must be common for where your at because I've never dug one up like that, or never recognized it, and apparently you friend has seen plenty of examples. Thanks for the update.

 

[BurntBear]

Rightfully so. Out of the whole bag of Garnets, I think there are 3 that exhibit this unusual crystal form. I can't seem to understand how this crystal could form 6 sides in any form of dodecahedron, icositetrahedron variations. They all look like funny, blown up cubes and pentagons, not hexagons.

 

[Eu_citzen]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J0cakdY-pqw/TpctxbUPIsI/AAAAAAAABO0/cbTEJjhXPj0/s1600/IMG_5476.JPG

If viewed from the right angle, a rhombic dodecahedron can look hexagonal. But the other faces are lacking in your specimen, which is odd!