Cut Garnet
Treasure Hunting for Star Garnets
Polished Garnets
India and Idaho are the only two places in the world that star garnets are found. They range in size from a grain of sand to golf ball in size. Star Garnets display a reflection of the light with a four or six ray star, which is caused by an inclusion of rutile in the gemstone. Idaho is the only known place where six ray star garnets are found.
The U.S. Forest Service operates a star garnet gemstone collection area at Emerald Creek Idaho. For a fee of $10 per day the treasure hunter can search for garnets and remove a maximum of five pounds of gemstones. Screen boxes, buckets and shovels are provided by the Forest Service; however you should bring drinking water, snacks, sunscreen, hat, gloves and a container for your treasures. The treasure hunting season starts at the end of May and lasts until after Labor Day. No pets allowed.
How Is It Done
Use the shovel and fill your five gallon plastic bucket with dirt and rocks at the mining area. Next take your bucket to the screening area and sift all of the dirt and sand leaving only the rocks. Next take your collection of rocks to one of the two sluice boxes to wash the material and look for garnets. Any rock that appears to have a shiny plastic like shine could be a garnet.
Rough Garnets
The garnets found at emerald creek are nearly opaque and will be a dark reddish or purple in color. Good quality large gemstones are rare and about one half of the gemstones you discover will not be of a quality suitable for cutting or polishing. Many of the stones will show a four ray star but the six ray star is quite rare. A good quality star garnet may fetch up to $100 per carat.
The garnet name is believed to have come from the pomegranate. Many of the ancient pieces of jewelry have clusters of red stones that do look a lot like a cluster of pomegranate seeds. Travelers often carried garnets to protect them from accidents. Legends suggest that garnets will glow at night and will protect the owner from nightmares. Noah has also been rumored to have used a garnet lantern to navigate the Ark at night.
Happy Treasure Hunting.
About the Author
David Cowley has created numerous articles on Treasure Hunting. He has also created a Web Site dedicated to Treasure Hunting. Visit Treasure Hunting
Pear Cut Garnet Pendant Sterling Silver
|
|
Garnet Emerald Cut CZ Ring Size-7 ONLY $19.00 |
|
|
DELUXE NATURAL OVAL PORTUGUESE CUT TOP RED GARNET STERLING 925 SILVER EARRING $16.50 |
|
|
Champagne & Garnet Turtle Cut CZ Ring Size-7 ONLY $15.00 |
|
|
G31 Garnet Marquise cut Approx.1/3 carats gem-stone stone natural rock loose $3.40 |
|
|
Fashion Gift Princess Cut Red Ruby White Gold Plated Garnet Tennis Bracelet $1.99 |
|
|
Red Created Garnet Ruby Topaz Round Cut 18K White Gold Plated Tennis Bracelet $9.99 |
|
|
G11 0.35 carat loose gemstone gem-stone Garnet Princess cut stone natural $3.10 |
|
|
~{ Hot Red Garnet Ruby Round Cut 18K White Gold Plated Elegant Cocktail Ring #IF $0.99 |
|
|
Checkerboard Cut Garnet CZ Ring Size-8 ONLY $14.00 |
|
|
Oval Checkerboard Cut Garnet & Pave CZ Ring Size-8 ONLY $16.00 |
|
|
G11 0.35 carat loose gemstone gem-stone Garnet Princess cut stone natural $3.10 |
|
|
PRINCESS CUT RED GARNET YELLOW GOLD GP RUBY PENDANT $6.48 |
|
|
Garnet Emerald Cut CZ Ring Size-8 ONLY $19.00 |
|
|
Champagne & Garnet Turtle Cut CZ Ring Size-8 ONLY $15.00 |
|
|
G61 Garnet Baguette cut Approx. 2/5 carats gem-stone stone natural rock loose $3.30 |
|
|
Hot! Sparkling Princess cut Garnet & White topaz Gemstones silver Ring Size 9 $1.56 |
|
|
1.21cts INTENSE Red SPESSARTITE GARNET Natural Faceted GEMSTONE PRINCESS CUT $19.50 |
|
|
2 TRILLION CUT NATURAL GARNET & DIAMOND 10KT SOLID YELLOW GOLD RING SIZE 7 $29.00 |
|
|
2.80tcw RHODOLITE GARNET Natural Faceted GEMSTONES PAIR Emerald Cut 1.40cts EA $14.50 |
|
|
Millenium Cut Amethyst & Garnet Ring Size-8 ONLY $14.00 |
|
|
Finest Laser Cut Faceted Garnet Gemstone Diamond Beads $8.99 |
|
|
## RED GARNET RUBY OVAL CUT 18K YELLOW GOLD PLATED DAINTY TENNIS BRACELET *YD $0.99 |
|
|
167a6 HH Huge Teardrop Pear Cut Garnet & White topaz Gemstone Silver Ring Size 9 $0.99 |
|
|
1.15 CT. NATURAL GEM STONE OVAL CUT Top Quality RICH ORANGE SPESSARTITE GARNET $9.99 |
|
|
SALE! Oval Cut Gift Red Ruby White Gold Plated Garnet Tennis Bracelet Jewellery $0.99 |
|
|
G5 natural Garnet 4/5 carat loose gemstone gem-stone Garnet Round cut stone $3.20 |
|
|
Unheated Orange Red Spessartite GARNET Oval Cut 11.2×9.5 mm Appraised $1698.40 $339.68 |
|
|
112a6 HH PRINCESS CUT GARNET AMETHYST PURPLE WHITE TOPAZ GEMS SILVER RING SZ 10 $0.99 |
|
|
Vintage Cut Garnet CZ Ring Size-9 ONLY $16.00 |
|
|
1.30ct Fancy Trillion Cut Shape Natural Gemsotne Orange Spessatite Garnet $9.99 |
|
|
Checkerboard Cut Garnet CZ Ring Size-9 ONLY $14.00 |
|
|
14.27 cts Natural Rare Top Red Garnet Round Cut Lot 3mm $24.99 |
|
|
1.46 cts Natural AAA+ Green Tsavorite Garnet Gemstone Pear Cut Kenya Untreated $ $265.00 |
|
|
Vintage Sterling Silver – Oval Cut Garnet Snake – Pendant XF454 $8.99 |
|
|
Champagne & Garnet Turtle Cut CZ Ring Size-9 ONLY $15.00 |
|
|
Oval Checkerboard Cut Garnet & Pave CZ Ring Size-9 ONLY $16.00 |
|
|
## RED GARNET RUBY TOPAZ 18K YELLOW GOLD PLATED DAINTY PRINCESS CUT PENDANT *TS $0.99 |
|
|
Top Quality Natural Gemsotne 1.00ct Trilliant Cut Rich Orange Spessatite Garnet $9.99 |
|
|
New Princess Cut Garnet Pendant 9ct Solid Yellow Gold From Sydney $78.49 |