Tsavorite Garnet Crystal — Gem Rough

$4,061.16
Chemical FormulaCa₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
Crystal SystemCubic
Mohs Hardness7–7.5
Specific Gravity3.57–3.73
LusterVitreous
TransparencyTransparent

Tsavorite’s deep green rivals emerald but with greater hardness and clarity — it rarely needs treatment, unlike most emeralds. The color comes from vanadium and chromium in grossul…

Only 1 available — a rare find.

SKU: TC-GEM-0491
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Description

The universe has 13.8 billion years of history. Some of it fits in your hand. Tsavorite’s deep green rivals emerald but with greater hardness and clarity — it rarely needs treatment, unlike most emeralds. The color comes from vanadium and chromium in grossular garnet. Found only in the East African metamorphic belt, new deposits are sought eagerly by miners on both sides of the Kenya-Tanzania border. Fine crystals in matrix are rarer than the faceted gems.

This specimen originates from Komolo, Arusha, Tanzania, one of the world’s most significant localities for this type of material. Collectors and scientists have drawn from this region for generations, and for good reason: the combination of geological conditions here produces specimens of exceptional quality and clarity.

Every specimen is unique. Photographs approximate the visual experience, but the real thing — its weight, its luster under a raking light, the way it catches the corner of your eye — can only be experienced directly.

Formation

This specimen formed through geological processes operating over timescales that dwarf human history. The specific combination of chemistry, temperature, pressure, and time at this locality produced material of exceptional quality that makes it a valued addition to any serious collection.

Locality

Tsavorite Garnet Crystal — Gem Rough from Komolo, Arusha, Tanzania. This locality is known for producing specimens of exceptional quality.

Collector Notes

The luster is maximized by low-angle raking light — try a single spotlight.