January--the Garnet
X3Y2(SiO40
The garnet is a member of the isomorphouse minerals.  It has a cubic, hexodahedron crystal.  It has a hardness from 6 1/2 to 7 1/2.  It is used as an abrasive in industrial work.  It has a white streak.  There are 6 different varities which grade into one another.  this can make it difficult to distinguish the different types.  Each varity varies by color, chemical makeup, rarity, and location.  The garnet was sometimes confused with a ruby because of its red color. 
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Pyrope: Magnesium Garnet
Mg3Al2(SiO4)3
   -from the Greek word "pyropos"
       meaning "fire-eyed"
    -a deep red color
    -found in Trebnitz, Czechoslovakia,
       and the United States
Almandine: Iron Garnet
Fe3Al2(SiO4)3
    -named after Alabanda, a town in
       Turkey
    -red, sometimes black
     -found in India, Zimbabwe, and
       Madagascar
Apessartine: Manganese Garnet
Mn3Al2(SiO403
    -named for Spessart, Bavaria
    -orange-red, yellowish
    -rarer
   -found in Ramonia, California,
      Brazil, and Madagascar   
Grossular: Calcium Garnet
Ca3Al2(SiO4)3
    -from the Latin word "grossular"
       meaning "gooseberry"
    -green, clear, white, brown,
        pale yellow
    -very rare
    -found in Italy and Mexico
Anaradit: Calcium-Iron Garnet
Ca3Fe2(SiO4)3
    -named after Portuguese minerol-
      ogist J.B. de Andrade
    -yellow, green, brown, black
    -common
    -found in United States, Ural Mtns.
      
Uvarovite: Calcium-Chromium Garnet
Ac3cr2(SiO4)3
    -named after Count S.S. Uvarov,
      a Russian
    -emerald-green
    -found in Ural Mtns and Scotland
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