science11

__//**The Topic is Garnet**//__ media type="file" key="11.mp3" width="240" height="20" //I chose Garnet because it is my birthstone. On the Moh scale Garnet is six and a half - seven and a half// but Almandine a type of Garnet from one locality can be eight and a half on the Moh scale. Garnets can be found all over the world. Garnets are often red but still can be any color except for blue. Garnets are in sand paper because the sharp corners round over to form a U shape while sanding. The crystal form of a Garnet occurs in well formed, distinct, dodecahedral plus trapezohedral crystals. Garnet is opaque or transparent. Garnets are also brittle. Almandine, a type of Garnet is paramagnetic, and becomes magnetic when heated. The most famous garnets are Pyrope and Almandine. The most valuable garnet, however, is the Demantoid variet of Andradite. Now I bet you'll like garnets more after listening to that.

__Comments from Teachers during the research process:__

Note from Mr. VanOrden: Garnet is my birthstone! I especially like your questions that asks about how hard garnet is on the Mohs scale. I found it interesting that garnet used to be used in sandpaper. I wonder why?

Note from Mrs. Smith: I am impressed by how you share so many different types of information, geological (hardness, color and magnetic) geometrical (shapes formed in the crystals), as well as functional (used as sandpaper). I do like garnets more now, and I don't understand why they don't get as much attention as the other red birthstone, the ruby!