SPESSARTITE

Overview: The name Spessartite is derived from Spessart, in N.W. Bavaria, Germany. Spessartine Garnets, also known as Spessartite, are the orange to red orange variety, often referred to as "root beer" colored Garnets. Due to its ideochromatic nature, spessartite is always some shade of orange.

The color is caused by Manganese. Spessartine is one of the lesser-known garnets, as it does not have any superior attributes over the other garnets. Natural Dpessartine has an orange color, but iron impurities are usually present, giving it a reddish or brownish color. Spessartite garnet is ideochromatic, meaning that it is colored by a fundamental element in its composition

Usage: A person wearing Spessartite has no inhibitions about being noticed,it signals self-confidence. It can also be used to initiate the analytical processes of the mind. Spessartite has been used in the treatment of lactose intolerance and to assist in the remediation of deficiencies in calcium metabolism.

Legend: Spessartite has always been a rare stone but recent discoveries in Nigeria, led to an increase in production, over the last two years. The color orange plays a very important role in Asian arts, Asian Gods are often dressed in orange robes, and even the sky may be painted orange. Orange is also the color for the robes of Buddhist monks, cut from a single piece of cloth.

Occurrence: Brazil, Burma, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Sri Lanka and the USA (San Diego County, CA and Amelia Court House, VA).