RocksdayTsavorite
Tsavorite is a mineral with a Mohs hardness of 7–7.5 and a vitreous luster, usually green.
Vivid green grossular garnet, colored by vanadium or chromium, from the border country of Kenya and Tanzania.
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.
Often confused with
Where it's found
- Tsavo area, Kenya
- Lemshuko, Tanzania
Uses
Gemstones.
Rock tumbling
Great for tumbling.
Did you know?
Campbell Bridges found it in Tanzania in 1967 and in Kenya in 1971. The name comes from Kenya's Tsavo region.
Tsavorite FAQ
What is tsavorite?
Tsavorite is a mineral with a Mohs hardness of 7–7.5 and a vitreous luster, usually green. Vivid green grossular garnet, colored by vanadium or chromium, from the border country of Kenya and Tanzania.
How do you 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.
How hard is tsavorite?
Tsavorite has a Mohs hardness of 7–7.5. Tsavorite scratches glass, and a steel knife can't scratch it.
Where is tsavorite found?
Notable localities include Tsavo area, Kenya; and Lemshuko, Tanzania.
What is tsavorite used for?
Gemstones.
Can you tumble tsavorite?
Yes — it tumbles well.
What is tsavorite often confused with?
Tsavorite is most often confused with Emerald, Demantoid and Grossular. Emerald is hexagonal, slightly harder and usually more included. Demantoid is softer and more fiery, and is the iron garnet. Tsavorite is the green gem variety of grossular.
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