Emerald Vs. Garnet

Emerald is a very popular gemstone composed of beryllium aluminum silicate.^[1] Garnet is also a very popular gemstone and its chemical composition is a group of silicates.^[2]

Quick Facts on Differences of Emerald and Garnet

For a quick recap of the differences emerald and garnet:

• For chemical formulas, emerald is Be3Al2Si6O18 while garnet is X3Y2(SiO4)4.
• While both emerald and garnet is vitreous, in terms of luster, garnet can be adamantine, resinous or submetallic.
• While both emerald and garnet can be commonly green, garnet is often black, blue, brown, gray, orange, pink, purple, red or yellow.
• Emerald's rarity is more rare than garnet.
• Emerald's specific gravity is lower than garnet - emerald ranges from 2.68 to 2.78 and garnet ranges from 3.4 to 4.3.

Quick Facts on Similarities of Emerald and Garnet

The similarities of emerald and garnet include:

• Emerald and garnet both can be opaque, translucent or transparent.
• Emerald and garnet both streak colorless.
• Emerald's hardness overlaps with garnet - emerald ranges from 7.5 to 8 and garnet ranges from 6.5 to 7.5 on the Moh's scale.

Summary of Emerald

Emerald is a green variety of beryl, a mineral that also includes aquamarine and morganite. The color of emerald is caused by the presence of chromium and vanadium in the crystal lattice. The intensity of the color and the purity of the green hue are the most important factors in determining the value of an emerald.

Summary of Garnet

Garnet is a popular mineral that is commonly found in metamorphic rocks. It is a silicate mineral that is composed of calcium, iron, magnesium, aluminum, and chromium. Garnet has a distinct reddish-brown color, but it can also be found in shades of green, yellow, orange, and black. It is a hard mineral and has a Mohs hardness scale rating of 6.5-7.5.

Table Comparison of Emerald vs Garnet