1. Garnets are commonly known for their deep-red color. What other colors do garnets come in, and what causes the diversity in color?
2. The name for garnet is derived from what Latin word?
3. The first garnets were mined in Sri Lanka more than 2,500 years ago. Where else are they commonly found?
4. Garnet is not a single mineral. Instead, what is it?
5. On the Mohs hardness scale, what does the garnet usually measure?
6. What human emotions and characteristics are garnets associated with?
7. A garnet given as gift is said to grant what upon the bestowed?
8. Some believed garnets had healing powers, specifically for heart-related ailments. What were garnets thought to do to us, physically?
9. From a metaphysical perspective, what are garnets thought to do for the body?
10. Why have soldiers and seamen carried garnets to battle throughout the ages?
11. In the Bible, it is believed that Noah affixed a garnet on the mast of his Ark. Why?
12. The almandine garnet is the official mineral of what state?
13. The Magic Garnet Museum, which features a large collection of historical and contemporary garnet jewelry, is in what Eastern European city?
14. The demantoid garnet is the most expensive kind of garnet, and one of the most precious of all gemstones. What are its characteristics?

January Birthstone Quiz Answers:

1. In addition to red, garnets appear in green, orange, brown, yellow, and earth tones such as cinnamon. This diversity of color is due to the combinations of elements within each particular gem, such as iron, calcium and manganese.
2. The word garnet is derived from the Latin word granatus, meaning grain. This is a likely reference to the pomegranate fruit which has seeds of a similar shape, size and color to some garnet stones.
3. Garnets are commonly found in India, South Africa, Brazil, Canada, Hungary and Austria. In the United States, garnets are mined in Arizona and Idaho.
4. Garnets are actually a broad group of minerals which share a common chemical formula.
5. On the Mohs hardness scale, the garnet usually measures between 6.5 and 7.5.
6. Garnets are associated with the human emotions and characteristics of love, devotion, honor and loyalty.
7. A garnet given as a gift is said to grant loyalty and affection on the bestowed.
8. Garnets were believed to help cardiovascular problems by regulating internal rhythms normalizing blood pressure.
9. From a metaphysical perspective, some believe garnets awaken the “heart center,” and can purify and cleanse the body, remove toxins, and revitalize the spirit.
10. Soldiers and seamen have carried garnets to battle because they are believed to offer protection against injury and death.
11. Noah was said to affix a garnet carbuncle to the mast of the Ark to light his way through the dark and stormy nights of God’s wrath.
12. The almandine garnet is the official mineral of Connecticut, and was declared so by the state’s General Assembly in 1977.
13. The Magic Garnet Museum is in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic.
14. The demantoid is a green garnet belonging to the largest family of garnets known as mineral andradite.

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