RocksdayDemantoid vs Tsavorite
To tell Demantoid from Tsavorite: Tsavorite is grossular: slightly harder, and without horsetail fibers.
Green andradite garnet with a diamond-like sparkle. It bends light into colors more strongly than diamond, but it is much softer.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky, CC BY-SA 3.0
Vivid green grossular garnet, colored by vanadium or chromium, from the border country of Kenya and Tanzania.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky, CC BY-SA 3.0
Key differences
- Tsavorite is grossular: slightly harder, and without horsetail fibers.
- Demantoid is softer and more fiery, and is the iron garnet.
Side by side
| Property | Demantoid | Tsavorite |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Mineral | Mineral |
| Mohs hardness | 6.5–7 | 7–7.5 |
| Luster | Adamantine | Vitreous |
| Streak | White | White |
| Colors | Green, Yellow | Green |
| Crystal system | Cubic | Cubic |
| Specific gravity | 3.8–3.9 | 3.6–3.7 |
| Formula | Ca₃Fe₂(SiO₄)₃ | Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃ |
| Found in | Ural Mountains, Russia; Namibia | Tsavo area, Kenya; Lemshuko, Tanzania |
Properties that are the same for both are grayed out.
How to identify demantoid
- Bright green with strong fire.
- Hardness only 6.5–7 — a steel file can scratch it, unlike emerald.
- Ural stones often show curving 'horsetail' fibers inside.
Crystal system: Cubic
Full Demantoid guide →How to identify tsavorite
- Intense green, often cleaner-looking than emerald.
- Hardness about 7–7.5, with no cleavage.
- Rounded garnet crystals or waterworn pebbles, not hexagonal prisms.
Crystal system: Cubic
Full Tsavorite guide →More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between demantoid and tsavorite?
Demantoid is a mineral with a Mohs hardness of 6.5–7 and an adamantine luster, usually green or yellow. Tsavorite is a mineral with a Mohs hardness of 7–7.5 and a vitreous luster, usually green.
How can you tell demantoid from tsavorite?
Tsavorite is grossular: slightly harder, and without horsetail fibers. Demantoid is softer and more fiery, and is the iron garnet.
Could you tell them apart from a blurry close-up?
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