Tsavorite

Characteristics of Tsavorite

• Tsavorite is a variety of the garnet group species grossular.
• It has a specific gravity of 3.60-3.68.
• Tsavorite has a refractive index of 1.740.
• The dispersion of tsavorite is 0.028.
• Trace amounts of vanadium or chromium provide the green color.

Discovery and Mining

• Tsavorite was discovered in the mountains of Simanjiro District, Tanzania in 1967.
• British gem prospector Campbell R. Bridges made the initial discovery.
• Bridges later found tsavorite in Kenya and was granted a mining permit.
• Tiffany and Co launched a marketing campaign in 1974 to promote tsavorite.
• Bridges was murdered in 2009 due to a dispute over access to his gemstone mines.

Geographical Distribution

• Tsavorite is found in Manyara, Tanzania and Toliara Province, Madagascar.
• Small deposits of gem-grade material have been found in Pakistan and Antarctica.
• No other occurrences of gem material have been discovered.
• Tsavorite is rare in gem-quality over several carats.
• Large tsavorite crystals, such as a 925-carat and a 120.68-carat, have been found.

Notable Tsavorite Stones

• The Lion of Merelani is a square cushion cut tsavorite weighing 116.76 carats.
• It has 177 facets and is on display at the Smithsonian Institution.
• A 325-carat oval mixed-cut tsavorite stone is one of the largest in the world.
• Tsavorite formed in a Neoproterozoic metamorphic event, resulting in various inclusions.
• Inclusions are strong identifying features in tsavorite.

References and External Links

• Bancroft, Peter. Tsavorite. Pala International.
• Tsavorite. Mindat.org.
• Tsavorite. International Colored Gemstone Association.
• BBC News. Mob kills UK gems expert in Kenya.
• Arem, Joel E.; Clark, Donald. Tsavorite Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information.
• Daily Telegraph obituary for Campbell R. Bridges.
• Tsavorite Garnets Used in Celtic Jewelry.
• Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tsavorite.
• List of emeralds by size.
• List of sapphires by size.

Tsavorite Data Sources