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Tsavorite: description, properties and photo
Tsavorite
Tsavorite is a grossular in its composition, a variety of garnet mineral. This rare gemstone was first found less than half a century ago. It got its name in honor of the find – Tsavo National Park in Kenya. This beautiful grossular garnet is mined only in the countries of East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania and Madagascar. They are yellowish, green and bluish-green. Most tsavorites are dark in color, so bright specimens are most valued. The green color of this grossular is caused by the content of chromium and vanadium.
There are also grossulars, which also have a green color, but painted with iron, not chrome. They are not tsavorites and have less value. For them, the names were invented: “mint garnet”, “green garnet” and “Mali garnet”. The properties of the stone are grossular (tsavorite), which make it an interesting object in jewelry: rarity, high hardness and excellent luster. If the stone is light colored, then you can see a strong dispersion of this garnet. The properties of this grossular, as well as the very attractiveness of the stone, were appreciated by the company Tiffany & Co., which in 1974 was engaged in its promotion on the market. Now tsavorites are very highly valued in the world due to their properties, and they can be found in piece jewelry brands.
DEPOSITS
Commercial mining of green grossulars is conducted only in East Africa. The main countries where tsavorite has a mine are Kenya, Tanzania and Madagascar. Tsavorites were first found in 1967 in the north of Tanzania in the area between Merelani and Lemshuko. There are mined samples of various shades and degrees of saturation of green. The second mining region is the Tsavo region in southern Kenya. Many tsavorites on the world market are represented by stones from Kenya, most of them have a darkish tint. The third mining region is Madagascar. Tsavorites from this deposit are slightly dark, large in size, and look like samples from the Tsavo region in Tanzania. A small amount of mineral is also found in southern Tanzania in the rivers of the Tunduru region.
Properties
Mineral:
garnet
Chemical formula:
Ca3Al2 (SiO4) 3
Crystal Systems:
cubic
Mohs scale hardness:
7-7.5
Optical character:
Isotropic
Cleavage:
very imperfect
Density:
3.61 (+0.12; -0.04) g / cm3
Luster:
Vitreous
Refractive index:
1.740 (+0.020; -0.010)
Birefringence:
None
Dispersion:
0,028
Color:
bright green to yellow green
Interesting facts
Tsavorite was discovered in 1967 in Kenya by the gemologist Campbell Bridges.
Tsavorites exceed emeralds by about 300 times in its rarity.
The cost of the best samples can reach $ 10,000 per carat and more.
History
The history of this green garnet is closely related to the name of the Scottish geologist Campbell R. Bridges, who owns the fame of the discoverer. Bridges discovered the first stones in 1967 in northeast Tanzania in the area of the Komolo village. Bridges discovered later a second tsavorite deposit on the Tanzanian border with Kenya in the Tsavo National Park. The name was given to this gem in honor of this park. In 1974, Tiffany & Co became interested in tsavorite. The name of this green garnet was invented, incidentally, by the director of Tiffany & Co. - Henry Platt. Marketers Tiffany & Co. made a bet on what was needed: exotic origin, African passions, the primordial nature, the unusual color.
Enhancement
Tsavorite is one of the few gemstones that are not subject to treatment.
Photo
On the photo: an exclusive bracelet with tsavorites and diamonds from Gemlovers
On the photo: small vivid round cut tsavorite
On the photo: gem grade tsavorite rough materials and faceted stones
