Tsavorite
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tsavorite can be considered a "new" gemstone since it was unknown before its discovery in Kenya in the 1960s. It is a member of the garnet family group grossularite (a calcium-aluminum garnet Ca3Al2Si3O12) in which trace amounts of vanadium or chromium provide the green color.
The name "tsavorite" comes from the Tsavo area of Kenya where the gem was first found. It is also found in the bordering country of Tanzania and in Toliara (Tuléar) Province, Madagascar, but so far, no other occurrences of gem material have been discovered.
This fine green gemstone is one of the most prized members of the garnet family, often rivaling fine sapphire and the like in price. The color ranges through the green hues, but the finest are equal in color to a fine quality emerald. Though far the less known of the two gems, the higher optical properties of tsavorite give it much greater brilliance and fire than emerald, making gems of similar clarity and color much more attractive to some people than their beryl counterpart.
Rare in clean gems over 1 carat (200 mg) in weight, tsavorite has been found in sizes yielding up to 15 carat (3 g) stones, but any gem of good color and clarity over 5 carats (1 g) could be considered a "museum" quality gem, and would be highly prized by any collector.
