Garnet

(gor'net.) [From It. granata, the pomegranate.] (Min.) A silicate of alumina with oxide of iron. It is a precious stone of great beauty, usually occurring in crystals more or le regular, and having numerous sides. Its prevailing color is red of various shades, but it is often brown, and sometimes green, yellow, or black. Precious G. is always red; fine specimens are found in Ceylon, Pegu, Brazil, .; and the term oriental sometimes applied to it indicates not the locality where it is found, but its excellence. G. are usually di eminated, and occur in all the primitive strata from gnei to clay slate. In some parts of Germany they are so abundant as to be used as fluxes for iron ores. Varieties have the names of pyrope, topazolite, melanite, gro ular, pyre nite, and colophonite. Carbuncle is a large G. cut en cabochon, i. c., convex on the under side, and concave on the upper. [s. 396]