Mali Garnet
Mali Garnet
Mali Garnet, one of the rarer varieties within the garnet group, is a mixture of the species grossular and andradite, therefore it is sometimes called “grandite.”
In the large and varied garnet family of gemstones, there are six common varieties that are recognized based on their chemical composition: pyrope, almandine, spessartite, grossularite, uvarovite and andradite. There are also some mixed members, such as rhodolite garnet, which is a mixture of pyrope and almandite by composition. New hybrid garnets continue to be discovered. In 1994 a mixture of grossular and andradite garnet was discovered in the West African country of Mali, and was named mali garnet. This discovery drew a lot of interest because the grossular and andradite varieties are among the rarest and most valuable garnets. Members of the grossular group include tsavorite and hessonite. The most famous member of the andradite group is the rare demantoid garnet.
Grossular Garnet is found in a variety of colors including, yellow, brown, white, colorless, green, violet red, and orangey red. Stones from the deposit in Mali are typically yellowish green or brownish green. Some gemologists refer to them as a grossular-andradite mixture.
The most valuable mali garnet is the extremely rare chrome green color. Generally speaking, yellow, greenish yellow and yellowish green stones sell for higher prices than the brownish stones. As with any gem, size, clarity and cut can affect the value significantly, with dispersion being a special value factor for Mali garnets.