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Melanite Garnet
Melanite Garnet is silicates (garnet group, andradite variety), Ca3Fe2(SiO4)3 with Ti. In the hand, it rates 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, and it runs jet black and brownish black. Glossy jet-black dodecahedra with mirror faces; titanium darkens this andradite to true black while keeping garnet's geometric perfection.
The geology.
Melanite Garnet carries the formula Ca3Fe2(SiO4)3 with Ti. It belongs to the isometric system. On paper it is silicates (garnet group, andradite variety).
It sits at 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. The surface reads vitreous to submetallic. Light behaviour is opaque. Specific gravity runs 3.8 to 3.9. The streak is white. It breaks with no cleavage; conchoidal fracture.
Glossy jet-black dodecahedra with mirror faces; titanium darkens this andradite to true black while keeping garnet's geometric perfection.
Expect to see it as sharp dodecahedral crystals, crystal clusters, beads or tumbled.
The origins.
Alkaline igneous rocks and skarns: San Benito County (California), Kaiserstuhl (Germany), Mali, Italy (classic Vesuvius area material).
On value, the database notes: affordable to mid; sharp lustrous crystal clusters are collector pieces.
Traditional associations.
In energy work traditions, associated with strong grounding, boundary-setting, and shadow work.
Recorded here because it is part of how this material is sold, not because it is a property of the material.
Spotting the real thing.
Glossy jet-black dodecahedra with mirror faces; titanium darkens this andradite to true black while keeping garnet's geometric perfection.
Black glass and dyed beads ride the name in jewelry; crystal form and heft expose them.
| Looks like | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| Black tourmaline | Tourmaline forms striated prisms with triangular cross-sections; melanite forms equant 12-faced balls |
| Magnetite | Magnetite is strongly magnetic with black streak; melanite is non-magnetic with white streak |
| Obsidian bead | Obsidian is glass with conchoidal shells and much lighter heft |
At-home tests.
None of these need a lab. A 10x loupe, good daylight and a steady hand cover most of what a buyer needs to know about melanite garnet.
| Test | What you should see |
|---|---|
| By eye | Equant dodecahedral crystal form |
| By eye | White streak despite black color |
| Magnet check | Not attracted to a magnet |
Anything that scratches, burns or dissolves the piece is a lab job. Get it appraised rather than testing it apart.
Care & handling.
At 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale it handles careful wear but scratches against quartz and dust. Store it separately and take rings off before rough work.
It breaks with no cleavage; conchoidal fracture, which is worth knowing before you set it or drop it.
Warm water and a soft cloth clean almost everything. Ultrasonic tanks, steamers and household cleaners are where pieces get ruined.
A deeper look.
Extended detail on composition, sourcing, authentication and market value.
The physical record
The formula on record is Ca3Fe2(SiO4)3 with Ti. Crystal system: Isometric. Specific gravity: 3.8 to 3.9. Streak: White. Cleavage and fracture: No cleavage; conchoidal fracture.
How it reaches the market
Alkaline igneous rocks and skarns: San Benito County (California), Kaiserstuhl (Germany), Mali, Italy (classic Vesuvius area material).
What it gets confused with
Black tourmaline: Tourmaline forms striated prisms with triangular cross-sections; melanite forms equant 12-faced balls. Magnetite: Magnetite is strongly magnetic with black streak; melanite is non-magnetic with white streak. Obsidian bead: Obsidian is glass with conchoidal shells and much lighter heft.
What it is worth
Affordable to mid; sharp lustrous crystal clusters are collector pieces.
Where buyers get caught
Black glass and dyed beads ride the name in jewelry; crystal form and heft expose them.
One more thing
Victorian mourning jewelry used melanite as an honest black gem that never faded, unlike dyed materials of the era.
An education-first guide.
No product links here. We do not sell melanite garnet, and a guide that only covers our own shelves would not be much of a guide.
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