In the 1980s when I was 3, we lived in Western Australia for a year. My parents were given some gemstones by a dear friend they met there, that had been mined in Australia, including some huge chunks of Jasper and Opal that I always loved to look at as a child. Compared to my tiny stature, they seemed almost as big as my head, weighed a ton, and were incredibly tactile. The Jasper was a solid hunk of stone, with just one highly polished face, which showed off the natural patterns and rich burnt oranges and browns and reds. The rest of the stone was raw and rugged, and I used to love running my fingers over it, then sliding them over the smooth polished face. A truly tactile delight!
The opal was a large chunk of raw rock, with a large swathe of turquoise and rainbow coloured opal running over and through it. I remember being mesmerised by the colours and the way the light bounced; quite unlike anything I'd ever seen.
And then there is this little Garnet. In many ways much more understated than the big, statement rocks that sat proud on the mantelpiece. A small stone, faceted in a 'baguette' style, it shows off the deep, blood red colouring.
A Stone Full of Meaning
It may be small, but it holds so much meaning to me. I keep it safe in its original red velvet pouch, with the yellowing piece of paper that was given to my parents with it 30 years ago. Written in pencil is the location of the mine where it was unearthed: Harts Range, Mt Riddock Station, 120 miles NE of Alice Springs (Northern Territories).
This Garnet was my Dad's which he had made into a silver ring. I don't remember him wearing it, but the size and weight of it remind me instantly of the size of his hands, and how they felt when I held them. They were often rough and soil-stained, from his years of gardening and house renovations, and while there are many things I remember fondly about my Dad, there is nothing quite as emotive as his hands.
We moved to Australia for a year as part of his job swap as a teacher, re-rooting two families so that the teacher in each one could spend a year at a school the other side of the world. I was too young to remember much of it, but there's something about the colours and the landscape that has stayed with me.
Harts Range: Tracing the Garnet Back to Its Source
When I started researching about the mine his Garnet came from, I came across this fascinating article about that particular range of mines, reputed for their high quality and wide ranging gemstones.
image credit: Mindat.com
I'd recommend taking a few minutes to read about the mine. It's a fascinating article, packed with information; from the geological terminologies, mining history and lengthy list of gemstones found there, to photographs and anecdotal recollections of the terrain - "Its generally very rugged going, mines are small and difficult to find, with many areas not accessible at all by vehicle. Walking anywhere is possible of course, but hampered by lack of defined tracks and water."
It's fascinating and exciting to know where this beautiful (and incredibly sentimental) gem was formed and later discovered, over 40 years ago and more than 9,500 miles away.
What Makes a Gem Truly Priceless
I plan to one day re-set it myself into something that can be worn every day and kept in the family.
For me, that will be the most special Garnet of all.
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