Umbalite

Umbalite or Umba river garnet meaning and price per carat, a beautiful gemstone for a nice ring.

Umba river garnet meaning and price per carat, a beautiful gemstone for a nice ring.

Buy natural umbalite in our gem shop

Umbalite or Umba river garnet

A variety of garnet consisting of a mixture of pyrope, almandine, and spessartine garnet, having the chemical formula Mg₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃-Mn²⁺₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃, exclusively found in the alluvial deposits of the Umba River, and having a light-pink to purple colour.

Named for the Umba Valley of the Tanga Region of Tanzania, the location of the mineral’s first discovery in 1978: Umba +‎ -lite

Umba garnet

Garnets are nesosilicates having the general formula X3Y2(Si O4)3. The X site is usually occupied by divalent cations (Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn)2+ and the Y site by trivalent cations (Al, Fe, Cr)3+ in an octahedral/tetrahedral framework with [SiO4]4− occupying the tetrahedra.

Garnets are most often found in the dodecahedral crystal habit, but are also commonly found in the trapezohedron habit. They crystallize in the cubic system, having three axes that are all of equal length and perpendicular to each other. Garnets do not show cleavage, so when they fracture under stress, sharp irregular pieces are formed (conchoidal).

Umbalite garnet hardness

Because the chemical composition of garnet varies, the atomic bonds in some species are stronger than in others. As a result, this mineral group shows a range of hardness on the Mohs scale of about 6.5 to 7.5. The harder species like almandine are often used for abrasive purposes.

Umbalite garnet meaning and healing properties benefits

The following section is pseudo scientific and based on cultural beliefs.

Garnet is said to help with treatment of disturbed blood circulation and strengthening of heart. It brings vitality and strengthens the memory. The gem is said to symbolize constructiveness.

Garnet is the birthstone for January. In fact, garnets have been used in birthstone jewelry since at least the 15th century. Traditionally, red garnets come to mind when thinking of this gem, but luckily for January babies, there are a variety of exciting garnets from which to choose. The calm and refreshing pink and purple hues make an excellent addition to this growing selection.

Sample from Tanzania

Natural umbalite for sale in our gem shop

We make custom made umbalite jewelry as engagement rings, necklaces, stud earrings, bracelets, pendants… Please contact us for a quote.