What is "grossular"

Grossular \Gros"su*lar\, a. [NL. grossularius, from Grossularia a subgenus of Ribes, including the gooseberry, fr. F. groseille. See Gooseberry.] Pertaining too, or resembling, a gooseberry; as, grossular garnet.

Grossular \Gros"su*lar\, n. [See Grossular, a.] (Min.) A translucent garnet of a pale green color like that of the gooseberry; -- called also grossularite.

a. Relating to, or resembling, a gooseberry. n. grossularite.

Grossular is a calcium- aluminium species of the garnet group of minerals. It has the chemical formula of CaAl(SiO) but the calcium may, in part, be replaced by ferrous iron and the aluminium by ferric iron. The name grossular is derived from the botanical name for the gooseberry, grossularia, in reference to the green garnet of this composition that is found in Siberia. Other shades include cinnamon brown (cinnamon stone variety), red, and yellow. Grossular is a gemstone.

Grossular should not be called grossularite, grossularite was once a type of rock.