Over the years, I’ve had numerous conversations with buyers from different countries regarding so-called “River Garnet” from China. It left me wondering, who exactly told them about this mythical River Garnet? After further investigation, I discovered that some Chinese exporters are misleading customers by claiming that they sell River Garnet.
But here’s the fact: China does not have any naturally occurring river garnet. As someone who has visited most of China’s garnet mining regions over the past 21 years, I can say with certainty that all the garnet mined in China comes from rock deposits, not rivers.
In China, garnet is exclusively sourced from rock deposits found in mountainous and underground areas. The purity and quality of these garnets can vary from one mining site to another. However, thanks to modern processing techniques, these rock-based garnets are purified and graded, making them suitable for applications such as sandblasting and waterjet cutting.
Many customers believe they are purchasing “River Garnet” from China, thinking it is naturally rounded, smooth, and clean, washed by river currents. However, this is a misleading concept. All garnet, regardless of the type, must undergo a water-washing process to remove impurities, dust, and debris before it reaches the market. This process helps to achieve a clean product, but it does not change the fact that the garnet originally comes from rock deposits.
The reason why this misconception exists is quite simple – some exporters want to create a differentiation strategy to stand out in the market. Thus, the term “River Garnet” was invented, even though it has no basis in reality.
The idea of River Garnet is purely a marketing term to make it sound more appealing. The concept of “river” might give the impression of a more natural, cleaner product, which is why some suppliers exploit this narrative to convince buyers of higher purity and quality. But the truth is, there is no river involved in the extraction of garnet in China. The garnet is mined from the ground, processed, and washed, but it never originates from any river.
The answer is straightforward: it’s an easy way to market the product and convince buyers that they are getting a premium quality garnet. However, this is deceptive. As a buyer, you deserve to know the truth and understand that what you are actually purchasing is processed rock garnet.
You have the option to offer high-quality, well-processed garnet and gain your customers’ trust with transparency. But please don’t claim that garnet mined from mountains and quarries is somehow “River Garnet.” It has nothing to do with rivers whatsoever.
If your factory happens to be located near a river, or you use river water to wash the garnet, or if you decided to trademark your product as “River Garnet,” well, that’s clever. But let’s be honest – garnet extracted from the earth is rock garnet, not river garnet.
It’s important for the industry to maintain integrity and provide accurate information about products. Customers deserve to know the origin and authenticity of what they are purchasing. Let’s stop the false marketing and embrace the fact: there is no true river garnet in China.
Dever Yang
28 Sep. 2024 in Brisbane