In 1967 the Legislature of the State of Idaho adopted the Star Garnet as it's State Stone. The Star Garnet is treasured throughout the world by collectors. This stone is considered more precious than either Star Rubies or Star Sapphires. Normally the star in the Idaho Garnet has four rays, but occasionally one has six rays as in a sapphire. The color is usually dark purple or plum and the star seems to glide or float across the dark surface. The four and six ray phenomenon is so rare in garnets, that it is largely unknown in the gemstone community and few gemologist who know about it have ever seen one.
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The Star Garnet is found only in northern Idaho and at an undisclosed location in India. The Emerald Creek garnet area (near Clarkia, ID) is a pay to dig area run by the U.S. Forest Service. The Idaho stone is very gem quality. The four and six ray phenomenon is so rare in garnets that it is largely unknown in the gemstone community.
The very rare six-star garnet.
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