9. Isomorphous Replacement
The shape-shifting ways of the garnet group in gemmology can be traced back to an alteration in the chemical makeup of the precious stone, which is known as isomorphous replacement. This occurs when an element in the gemstone is replaced by another of the same valency while not altering the form of the stone. The study of the isomorphous replacement allows us to research further into how a single family of gemstones, the garnet, can offer an expansive variety of inclusions and colours.
