Garnet vs Ruby
Garnet and Ruby are easy to confuse. Here’s how they stack up on the properties that actually separate them.
| Garnet | Ruby | |
|---|---|---|
| Also known as | — | Corundum (Corundum family) |
| Colour | Red, Blue | Red |
| Mohs hardness | 6.5–7.5 | 9.0 |
| Lustre | vitreous to resinous | Subadamantine, vitreous, pearly (on partings) |
| Streak | White | White |
| Crystal system | Isometric | Trigonal |
| Transparency | Can form with any diaphaneity, translucent is common | Transparent, translucent |
| Cleavage | Indistinct | No true cleavage |
| Fracture | conchoidal to uneven | Conchoidal, splintery |
| Chemical formula | The general formula |