in Natural History, a very beautiful gem, of a red colour, with an admixture of blue. See Mineralogy Index.

When pure and free from blemishes, it is little inferior in appearance to the oriental ruby, though only of a middle degree of hardness between the sapphire and common crystal. It is found of various sizes, from that of a pin's head to an inch in diameter.

Among lapidaries and jewellers, genuine garnets are known by different names according to their different degrees of colour. 1. The garnet, simply so called, is the finest and most valuable kind, being of a very deep blood-red with a faint admixture of blue. 2. The rock-ruby; a name very improperly given to the garnet when it is of a very strong but not deep red, and has a fairer cast of the blue; this is a very beautiful gem. 3. The sorane or serain garnet; that of a yet brighter red, approaching to the colour of native cinnabar. cinnabar, with a faint blue tinge. 4. The almandine, a garnet only a little paler than that called the rock-ruby.

GARNET-Colour. See Colouring of Glass.

To imitate Garnets. The making the counterfeit garnet in paste is done as follows.—Take prepared crystal two ounces, common red-lead six ounces, manganese 16 grains, zaffre three grains; mix all well, put them into a crucible, cover it with lute, and set it in a potter's kiln for 24 hours. Or take crystal two ounces, minium five ounces and a half, manganese 15 grains, zaffre four grains; mix them well together; and let all be baked, in a pot well luted, in a kiln, 24 hours.