Almandine Garnet One of the classic sources of this garnet is Alabanda, in Asia Minor. Its common name is a modification of the source. The Roman historian Pliny wrote of them.
Our common, dark red garnets are a blend of almandine and pyrope. Throughout history, this has been one of the most popular gems. They are found world wide and in great abundance. Hence, the value is low.
Very large crystals exist, but because of their dark tone, only small to medium sized gems are faceted. These are cut very shallow, to let light pass through.
Almandine garnets from Idaho and India sometimes have asbestos fiber inclusions. These will produce star stones when properly cut. They are highly prized by collectors, because of their rarity. They are also one of the most difficult gems to cut.