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Chemical Formula | Ca3Cr2Si3O12 |
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Composition | Calcium chromium silicate |
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Color | Emerald-green |
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Streak | Colorless |
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Hardness | 7 - 7½ |
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Crystal Forms and Aggregates |
(Isometric) Occurs in dense groupings of dodecahedral crystals. Very rarely forms in trapezohedral crystals. Also forms in crusty aggregates of tiny crystals. |
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Transparency | Translucent |
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Specific Gravity | 3.7 - 3.8 |
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Luster | Vitreous to adamantine |
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Cleavage | None |
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Fracture | Conchoidal to uneven |
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Tenacity | Brittle |
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In Group | Silicates ; Nesosilicates ; Garnet group |
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All About | Uvarovite is a Garnet, belonging to the Garnet
group.
The Garnet group is a small group of closely related
minerals. The members of the Garnet group are isomorphous, and some of them freely
intermingle. They vary only slightly in physical
properties, and some of them may be so similar that they
are indistinguishable from one another without x-ray
analysis. The most common members are: Pyrope, Almandine, Spessartine, Grossular, Andradite, and Uvarovite. The minerals in the Garnet group are called "Garnets". All Garnets are hard and many are fit for gem use. Unless articulate, most mineral and gem dealers don't refer to garnets by their true name (i.e. Uvarovite), but by the name "Garnet". The garnets as a group occur in all colors (except for blue). For more information about garnets, see the Garnet group. Uvarovite is a rare Garnet and it is not as popular as the other garnets. Its lustrous, tiny, emerald-green crystals create much interest to scientists and mineral collectors. |
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Uses | Uvarovite is the only Garnet without gem
use, for it hardly ever occurs in crystals large enough
to be faceted. However, it is quite valuable to
collectors, for its color and rarity make it special. See the gemstone section on garnet |
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Striking Features | Color, crystal aggregates, and hardness |
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Popularity (1-4) | 2 |
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Prevalence (1-3) | 3 |
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Demand (1-3) | 1 |
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Distinguishing Similar Minerals |
Grossular - usually occurs in larger
crystals, which are paler in color and are less lustrous Demantoid - usually occurs in larger crystals, otherwise very hard to distinguish Dioptase - softer, occurs in different crystals Torbernite and Zeunerite - softer, occurs in different crystals |
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Commonly Occurs With |
Chromite, Olivine, Serpentine, Diopside, Tremolite |
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Noteworthy Localities |
Uvarovite is a rare mineral, and its
occurrences are limited. The largest crystals of this
mineral come from Outukumpu, Finland. Uvarovite also
occurs in Val Malenco, Lombardy, Italy; Sarany (in the
Ural Mountains), Russia; and in the Kop Krom mine,
Erzerum, Turkey. In Canada, it was found in Quebec at Magog, Stanstead Co., Thetford, Megantic Co., and Wakefield. In the U.S., it occurs in California near Livermore, Alameda Co., and in Jackson, Amador Co. |
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Picture Icon Links |
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Picture Links | Sorry. No Images currently available. |
