Tsavorite

Real mineral · very rare · Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃

Green grossular garnet coloured by chromium and vanadium. Found only in metamorphic rocks in East Africa. Requires the unusual geological combination of vanadium-bearing sediments and calcium-rich metamorphic rocks.

Identity

Formula

Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃

Chemical class

silicate

Mineral group

Demantoid, Garnet, Grossular, Spessartine, Uvarovite

Also known as

Green grossular garnet, Tsavolite

Crystallography

Crystal system

cubic

Habits

dodecahedral, massive

Fracture

conchoidal

Physical properties

Mohs hardness

7.5

Density

3.59 g/cm³

Luster

vitreous

Colors

green, dark green, yellow-green

Streak

white

Transparency

transparent

Geology

Origins

metamorphic

Host rocks

gneiss, marble

Associated minerals

Tanzanite, Graphite, Pyrite

Geography

Tanzania, Kenya, Madagascar

Classification

Rarity

very rare

Gem quality

Yes

Arcane properties

Affinity

life, earth

Effects

healing, elemental earth

Planar origin

Material Plane

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