anyone collect their heavy garnets while gold panning?

how do u tell the big garnets from a small ruby that size doc

Find a big ruby I guess.... :)

Here's one I found last week. (Corundum at least... not a cutable stone really)

When you hold a ruby/ sapphire / Corundum into the sunlight, it shines at you like polished metal.
Garnets look like dark red glass.

photo (12).JPG
 

Right, rubies will gleem like, star ruby, star saphire. The se gems have a cross of reflected sun light because of the crystaline structure down to the molecular level. Garnets will have that aquarium gravel/ glassy look to it.
 

A simple hardness test kit will easily ID-google and make your own or cheap to buy at gem mineral suppliers. Or many electrical testing units available-John
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top