Tsavorite is a bright green variety of Grossular Garnet.
Tsavorite gets its name from the Tsavo National Park in Tanzania, which is where is was
first discovered. Since the fairly recent discovery in 1968 of this beautiful bright green
gemstone, it has been growing steadily in popularity. Because it is a type of Garnet, many
people tend to look down upon it as a common and cheap stone. This is mainly through
ignorance. Tsavorite, along with Demantoid, Spessartite and other garnets, are quite rare,
and very beautiful gemstones. As Tsavorite has become more widely appreciated, its price has
been steadily rising.
Tsavorite was the first Green Garnet the world had known since small Russian deposits of
Demantoid Garnet had run out in the late 19th century. Today Tsavorite's gorgeous bright
green shades are rapidly growing in popularity as new digs in both Kenya and Tanzania turn
up fabulous new sources.
Coloration
Tsavorite ranges from light green to very dark. The finest stones are eye clean with an
intense medium green color. Tsavorite gets its coloring from vanadium and/or chromium
impurities.
Technical Characteristics
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Chemical Composition:
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Calcium aluminium silicate - Al3Al2(SiO4)3
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Hardness:
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7
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Specific Gravity:
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3.36 to 3.55
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Refractive Index (R.I.):
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1.72
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Bi-refringence:
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0.059
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Optic Sign:
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Positive
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Optical Character:
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Uniaxial
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Crystal Structure:
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Cubic
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