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- Garnet from the African country of Mali that ranges from green to yellow to brown (though most often a
greenish-yellow). The deposit of these
Garnets was discovered in Mali in 1994, and their scientific classification is not clearly identified; they can be either Grossular or
Andradite depending on their chemical composition. X-ray analysis has determined most of these Garnets to be an intermediary form of the Grossular / Andradite series, though closer in chemical structure to
Grossular. Although this is a relatively new term, it has become extensively used in the gem trade.
- Raspberry-red Grossular Garnet from  the Lake Jaco area in Sierra de la Cruz, Coahuila, Mexico.
- Pink to raspberry-red variety of Grossular Garnet from the Lake Jaco area in Sierra de la Cruz, Coahuila, Mexico.
- Massive veins of opaque Grossular Garnet that resembles
Jade. It is white to light green in color, and may be colored in a
white, green, and pink combination. See Hydrogarnet for more details.
- Rare emerald-green, transparent variety of Grossular Garnet from Kenya and Tanzania in Africa. Tsavorite is a relatively recent gemstone, with the term "Tsavorite" first being coined by Tiffany and Co. in the 1970's. Though its name is not historically significant and has been only recently coined, this term has become widely used and accepted in the gemstone industry.
For more detailed see the gemstone section on Tsavorite.
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Although slightly softer than other Garnets, Grossular Garnets have good color and transparency and make good gemstones, though large cuttable crystals are uncommon. The most prized Grossular gemstone is the rare and valuable emerald-green Tsavorite. Hessonite is occasionally used as a gemstone, as well as the light green to yellowish-green variety. The massive, vein-like material usually categorized as Hydrogrossular is occasionally carved into ornaments and cabochons.
See the gemstone section on Grossular, Tsavorite, and Garnet for more information.
Grossular is a valuable mineral to collectors, and good transparent specimens can demand a high price.
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Grossular has many good localities worldwide. This list describes some of the better-known locations. Italy is famous for its many Grossular occurrences, especially the Hessonite variety; noteworthy Italian localities include the Val D'Ala; where it occurs with outstanding Diopside; Condove, Val D'Susa; Bellecombe, in the Val D'Aosta; Carboneri, in the Val D'Pellice; and Urbe, Savona Province. Other European localities are Felskinn, Saas Fee, Wallis, Switzerland; and the Ocna de Fier-Dognecea District, Banat Mts, Romania.
The desirable deep green Tsavorite variety comes from the Scorpion Mine, Tsavo National Park, Kenya (hence its name); and the Merelani Hills, Arusha, Tanzania. Large brown floater crystals come from the Kayes Region, Mali. Light green crystals, sometimes in a rare trapezohedral form, come from the the Vilyui River Basin, Yakutia, Russia.
In Mexico, exceptionally large crystals and clusters are found near Lake Jaco, in Sierra de la Cruz, Coahuila. Most crystals are beige to light-greenish-gray, though a very attractive raspberry-red form is found there as well.
Perhaps the most outstanding locality of Grossular is the Jefferey Mine in Asbestos, Québec, Canada. This mine was famous for its lustrous transparent brown Hessonite crystals, as well as a chromium-rich deep green form. Other occurrences in Québec include the Thetford Mines and nearby Black Lake, which produce deep green chromium-rich crystals; and the Orford Nickel mine, St-Denis-de-Brompton, where electric green microcrystals embedded on Diopside were found.
In the U.S., some of the finest Grossular crystals have come from the Belvidere Mountain quarries, Lowell/Eden, Orleans & Lamoille Cos., Vermont, in sharp transparent crystals. Orange-brown Grossular comes from Maine at the Pitts-Tenney Quarry, Minot, Androscoggin Co.; and at Sanford, York Co. Small Grossular crystals embedded in large massive Grossular matrix can be found at West Redding, Fairfield Co., Connecticut. Other U.S. localities include the Hunting Hill quarry, Rockville, Montgomery Co., Maryland; Vesper Peak, Sultan Basin, Snohomish Co., Washington; Bishop, Inyo Co., California; and Havila, Kern Co., California. Light greenish-gray floater crystals come from the Wah Wah Mountains in Beaver Co., Utah.
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Spessartine - Very difficult to distinguish without complex methods, though Spessartine usually forms in trapezohedral crystals whereas Grossular forms in dodecahedral crystals.
Andradite - Very difficult to distinguish without complex methods.
Uvarovite - Usually darker green and in denser aggregates, and found only in chromium-rich deposits.
Tourmaline - Lighter in weight, forms different crystals.
Vesuvianite - Forms different crystals.
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