Tsavorite Key Facts
- 7-7.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness
- A beautiful and striking green version of garnet
- Named after the national park it was discovered in
- First mined in Tanzania
General Information on Tsavorite
Tsavorite is a bright green stone mined in Tanzania. It is part of the garnet family and has the chemical formula Ca3Al2SI3O12.
Small amounts of the element chromium give tsavorite its spectacular green colour
The discovery of this green stone in 1967 in Tanzania allowed more opportunity for green garnet to come on to the market. Tsavorite has also been found in other African countries and is a rare stone and treated in similar ways to Alexandrite in the sense that, although it is not as popular as ruby or sapphire, it is equally as prized. Tsavorite over around 6mm is particuarly rare and would be considered to be a museum piece.
Tsavorite has a Mohs hardness value of 7-7.5 which makes it feasible for use in an engagement ring, however care should be taken when wearing a tsavorite engagement ring as damage could easily occur. It is not therefore recommended to cut tsavorite into shapes with points, like squares, as these points are particularly brittle.
Tsavorite would make a wonderful choice for your engagement ring if you are looking for a bold green stone as the centre piece.