Gemological, chemical, spectroscopic, and microscopic properties of blue-green color-change garnets from a new deposit near Bekily, Madagascar, are given. The samples are members of the pyrope-spessartine solid-solution series, with smaller constituents of almandine and grossular. The alexandrite-like color change from blue-green in daylight to purple in incandescent light is mainly caused by relatively high amounts of vanadium (about 1 wt. % V 2 O 3 ). These garnets are particularly noteworthy because they represent the first commercially available “blue” garnets.
Gemological, chemical, spectroscopic, and microscopic properties of blue-green color-change garnets from a new deposit near Bekily, Madagascar, are given. The samples are members of the pyrope-spessartine solid-solution series, with smaller constituents of almandine and grossular. The alexandrite-like color change from blue-green in daylight to purple in incandescent light is mainly caused by relatively high amounts of vanadium (about 1 wt. % V 2 O 3 ). These garnets are particularly noteworthy because they represent the first commercially available “blue” garnets.
