I DIFFER FROM MOST garnets in that I am almost never faceted and most casual observers would swear that given my fabulous hue, translucency, and toughness I am from a far distant gemological family: jadeite. Indeed, shortly after I was discovered on a South African farm in the 1930s, I quickly acquired the misnomer “Transvaal jade.” Use that name today and you’re likely to run into legal trouble. But that shouldn’t dissuade you from suggesting me as a substitute for Myanmar’s finest green rock. Politically and environmentally, I make a much better choice as well.
Who am I?
