Tsavorite
green · Garnet family
| Also known as | Garnet (Garnet family) |
|---|---|
| Colour | Green |
| Mohs hardness | 7.0–7.5 |
| Lustre | vitreous to resinous |
| Streak | White |
| Crystal system | Cubic |
| Transparency | Can form with any diaphaneity, translucent is common |
| Cleavage | Indistinct |
| Fracture | conchoidal to uneven |
| Chemical formula | Ca 3 Al 2 Si 3 O 12 |
| Specific gravity | 3.60–3.68 |
What is Tsavorite?
Tsavorite or tsavolite is a variety of the garnet group species grossular, a calcium-aluminium garnet with the formula Ca3Al2Si3O12. Trace amounts of vanadium or chromium provide the green color.
How to identify Tsavorite
- Lustre: vitreous to resinous.
- Hardness: Mohs 7.0–7.5 — hard enough to scratch glass.
- Streak: White.
- Habit: Cubic crystal system.
Tsavorite value
Tsavorite is a fine gemstone priced per carat by quality — colour, clarity, cut, carat and origin — not by weight in grams. Typical market ranges:
| Quality | Price per carat |
|---|---|
| Commercial | $200–$800 / ct |
| Good | $800–$3,000 / ct |
| Fine | $2,000–$8,000 / ct |
| Top | $8,000–$20,000 / ct |
Ranges cross-validated across two independent research passes against gemstone price guides, 2026-06 — sources: theraregemstonecompany.com, naturalgemstones.com. Colour saturation, clarity, cut and origin move the price enormously, and treatments or lab-grown stones sell for a fraction — so this is a guide, not an appraisal. Have anything valuable checked by a certified gemmologist. See the full crystal & gemstone value guide.
