Natural garnets are inexpensive enough to make synthetic production unprofitable.
Garnets are silicate crystalline minerals that can have a number of different chemical structures. Although generally a deep red, some forms of garnet can be bright green. Garnets are formed deep underground; over time, geological action has distributed them at depths that allow for different types of mining methods. Although there are only two methods of mining garnets, there are numerous ways to produce synthetic garnets.
Open Pit
Many garnets are mined in open-pit mines. In open-pit mining, the shallow overburden, or soils over mineral deposits, is removed using large bucket shovels and dump trucks. Open-pit mines are appropriate for shallow deposits of garnet. These mines start with the removal of the dirt over the mineral deposits. Roads are built that wind down the sides of the pit, and trucks drive down to the pit bottom, where they are filled with soil and deposits likely to contain garnets. The trucks take the material from the pit to a processing facility.
Underground
Less common than open-pit mines, some underground mines produce garnets. Kimberlite, the mineral formation in which diamonds are often found, may contain garnet and other precious and semiprecious gems. Underground mines can exploit kimberlite deposits. Underground garnet mines are located in parts of Pennsylvania. Mines in other states, such as Little Pine Garnet Mine in North Carolina, have surface garnets as well as underground mine segments. Mine operations like this cater to amateur stone collectors, who enjoy the hobby of rock hunting.
Synthetic
Although natural garnets are mined, synthetic garnets can be made using a variety of chemical formulas under pressure. Certain synthetic garnets, called homocreated garnets, mimic the natural stones, but many are produced using chemical compositions that would not occur in nature. Many lab-created garnets, such as yttrium aluminum garnets, are often used as gem-quality faceted synthetic gemstones. Yttrium iron garnets are magnetic and are often used in sensors and other electronic devices.
Tags: synthetic garnets, garnets mined, mineral deposits, often used, open-pit mines
