PRECIOUS GARNET. 
GARNET FAMILY. 
70. The PRECIOUS, or NOBLE GARNET, is a gem 
of crimson colour, which, when crystallized, has the form of a 
twelve-sided solid (Fig. 11, 12). It is sufficiently hard to 
scratch quartz, and is about four times as heavy as water. 
This stone is found abundantly in many mountains 
(particularly of primitive rock), in different parts of the 
world. But garnets of the hardest and best quality are 
brought from Bohemia, where there are regular mines 
of them ; and a great number of persons are there em- 
ployed in collecting, cutting* and boring them. The 
boring is performed by an instrument having a diamond 
at its extremity, which is rapidly turned by a bow. 
The work is so expeditiously performed, that an expert 
artist can bore 150 garnets, or he can cut and polish 
thirty, in a day. In Suabia there are two towns in 
which upwards of 140 persons are employed in these 
operations. 
In general garnets are stones of inferior value. 
"When compared with the ruby, those even of finest 
quality have a very sombre appearance. The kinds 
most esteemed are such as have a clear and intense red 
colour, or a rich violet or purplish tinge. The best 
garnets are cut in the manner of other precious stones, 
and are usually set upon a foil of the same colour. To 
heighten the colour and transparency of certain gar- 
nets, jewellers either form them into what are called 
doublets, by attaching to the lower part of the stone a 
thin plate of silver, or they hollow them underneath. 
Crystals of garnet sometimes occur three or four 
inches in diameter. These are cut into small vases ; 
which, if of good colour, and free from defects, are 
highly valued. Many fine engravings have been 
executed on garnet. One of the most beautiful that is 
known is a figure of the dog Sirius, in the possession of 
Lord Duncannon. 
The coarser kinds of garnet are used as emery for 
