The Mali garnet is a hybrid garnet between grossular and andradite garnet. The combination of two of the rarest varieties of garnet in a single variety caused a stir for gem collectors when it was discovered. It has also been named ‘grandite’ garnet, referencing its rare and unusual chemical composition.
Mali garnets occur in pale to dark green, yellow and greenish brown. The variety was discovered in 1994 in the West African country of Mali, which is where the gemstone gets its name. Mali garnets have a high brilliance and fire, making them the ideal gemstones to set into jewellery.
Mali garnets are incredibly sought after, however Mali has been the only discovered source of this gemstone to date.
