anyone collect their heavy garnets while gold panning?

[golden sluice]

I save my garnets. I use them to practice with. I was wondering if they had any value, depending on size and color and clarity?

 

[goldhog]

I would think something that big would have value Doc, no?

No telling until you start cutting it open to be honest.
See what how much of it is a cutable stone.

 

[carnet56]

how do u tell the different from one that big and a ruby

 

[carnet56]

garnets

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

 

[goldhog]

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.

 

[golden sluice]

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.

 

[Hoser John]

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