Gem-quality garnets have been found in the sediments of many Idaho streams. They are mostly deep red almandite and purplish red almandite-spessartite.

The most interesting surprise was the discovery of star garnets. These purplish red almandite garnets contain fine rutile needles that produce four-ray stars or six-ray stars when the rough is properly oriented and cut into cabochons. Cutting the garnets to properly produce a star is not easy, and only highly skilled cutters are able to consistently produce them with a nicely centered star.

Star garnets are extremely rare. India and Idaho are the two most famous star garnet localities and the only places where they have been produced in commercial quantities. Small amounts of star garnets have also been found in Russia, Brazil, and North Carolina.

It is highly unlikely that you will ever find a star garnet for sale in a mall jewelry store. Because of their rarity, they are almost never placed in commercial jewelry and most jewelry buyers do not know they exist. Most of the star garnets found go into gem collections, mineral collections, and custom jewelry.

Idaho is the most likely place for you to find a star garnet being offered for sale in jewelry. In 1967, the Idaho Legislature designated star garnet as the official state gemstone. This has given the gem a some local popularity and they can occasionally be found for sale at a lapidary show or a specialty jewelry stores.