It can easily be confused with emerald. It is mined only in a single place on earth - in northwestern Kenya. It is so rare that the same emerald is found several hundred times more often. Meet: tsavorite. The chemical composition of this stone is so unique that other minerals are very inferior to it.
But if we compare it with emerald, then tsavorite is less hard, and its light refractive ability is somewhat different. Due to the fact that this mineral is characterized by low defectiveness (irregularities and cracks), therefore, its strength will be slightly higher than that of its more expensive counterpart. In its pure form, tsavorite is found much more often than emerald.
After a deposit of stone was found (and this happened in the late 60s of the twentieth century), the question arose of what to call the mineral. American jeweler Henry Platt () called it tsavorite. Which, in fact, is a derivative of the name of the Kenyan national park - Tsavo. Naturally, everyone agreed and the name stuck.
Green garnet and Kenyan emerald are also called tsavorite. It should be noted that the color range of this mineral is wider than that of the same emerald: from yellow-green to dark green, with a barely noticeable blue. The weight of a large stone is 5 carats, but generally medium-sized stones weighing a couple of carats are common in nature.
To extract a mineral from the depths of the earth, you need to make a lot of effort, because it lies at a considerable depth, and there can be no talk of any mechanized labor - everything is done by hand. And representatives of African fauna can greatly annoy stone miners. Poisonous snakes and scorpions are perhaps the most harmless creatures that strive to make their own adjustments to the work of geologists.
Tsavorite deposits
Tsavorite was first discovered in the east of the African continent, where it is mined to this day in Kenya and Tanzania. Several decades ago, mineral deposits also began to be developed in Uganda. Tsavorite deposits are located in regions that are not covered by vegetation and prone to drought, and for these reasons, its industrial extraction is a complex and labor-intensive process.
Mining locations
The only place on Earth where tsavorite is mined is in the countries of East Africa. Developing deposits - Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar island. A new deposit was discovered in Uganda, but its development never started due to the climate and geography of the area.
Mining of the mineral is carried out in difficult conditions - tsavorite lies at great depths, and work at the deposit is carried out manually. In addition, the work is complicated by representatives of the local fauna (snakes, scorpions), hot climate, attacks by wild animals or bandits. The gem is cut in the “homeland” of its occurrence, as well as in Germany.
History of tsavorite
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The beautiful bright green stone was first discovered in the mid-20th century by geologist Campbell Bridges during excavations in Tanzania. The beauty of the gem was very similar to an emerald and attracted the attention of the head of Tiffany & Co. Henry Platt, who gave the find the name “tsavorite”, that is, “tsavorite” or “tsavorite” in Russian, which indicates the place of its first find - the Kenyan Tsavo National Park .
Despite the rarity of the gem, it attracted the attention of jewelers with its amazing brilliance and rich palette of shades, and gained popularity in Europe and America.
Talismans and amulets
Silver ring with tsavorites
Tsavorite, like most green gems, is a powerful financial talisman. Therefore, it is recommended for anyone who is experiencing financial difficulties to acquire it. This stone is also considered a status gem; it indicates a high position and fame in certain circles of its owner.
The African emerald is a strong amulet that protects its owner from absolutely all troubles and energy attacks of any type. If it is kept in the house, it protects the home from robberies, floods, fires and other misfortunes, and also maintains a warm and friendly atmosphere in the family.
Tsavorite is energetically suitable for professions such as financiers, bankers and businessmen. Carrying a pebble with you is recommended for people who want to quickly climb the career ladder.
Green is the color of the earth element, so this gem can provide support to everyone who works on the earth - all kinds of agrarians, gardeners and farmers.
Physico-chemical characteristics of tsavorite
Tsavorite represents a group of grossulars - a variety of garnet, and by chemical nature is a hydrous calcium aluminosilicate.
The bright green saturated color of this mineral is associated with the presence of vanadium impurities in its composition. In general, the color of the stone varies from dark green to bright green with a yellow or gray tint. Tsavorite crystals are transparent or translucent. Specific gravity 3.61 g/cm3, hardness on the Mohs scale 7-7.5. Externally, tsavorite is very similar to emerald in its color and pure glass luster, for this reason it is sometimes called “African emerald”.
Color palette
Tsavorite has no separately identified varieties. The main color of the stone is only one – green. However, the variety of shades of this color in tsavorite exceeds the number of colors in emerald. Each deposit is characterized by the extraction of a specific shade of stone:
- Tanzania is rich in examples of such tones as light green, grassy, and deep green.
- Most Kenyan stones are dark green.
- Madagascar specimens are similar in shade to Kenyan specimens, but larger nuggets are found there.
A characteristic feature of tsavorite is its gray or brown tint due to the content of additional impurities. There are also yellowish-green or bluish-green specimens. The cost of an African emerald is, first of all, determined by the color saturation - the brighter, the more expensive.
The magical properties of tsavorite
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Tsavorite was recognized as a stone for gardeners. Even the simple presence of this amazing gem is enough to make everything around you bloom.
As for the influence of tsavorite on humans, it is multifaceted. Tsavorite is an excellent and reliable protective filter that does not allow negative energy to pass through to its owner. During sleep, it protects against nightmares and terrible dreams. After a bad dream, it is also recommended to look at a specimen of tsavorite in order to forget all the bad things, events and people you saw.
The calming and calming effect of tsavorite manifests itself not only on the person who directly wears the talisman, but also affects all the people around him. For this reason, tsavorite is recommended to avoid quarrels in the family, disputes and conflicts in work teams. Just by looking at this gem, a person calms down and forgets about irritation and anger.
Where is it mined and how is it processed?
The gemstone has a history of less than a century. It was discovered in the 60s of the 20th century by Campbell Bridges. This English geologist conducted scientific research in Tanzania. They suggested that in the depths of the African continent there is a mineral unknown to mankind. But the mineralogist was not immediately able to prove this hypothesis. The Tanzanian authorities did not allow mineral exploration.
Then the enterprising man moved to Kenya. He took certain actions and found deposits of a green gem near the National Park called Tsavo. Therefore, the crystal received such an unusual name - tsavorite.
Campbell Bridges patented his discovery and became the owner of the world's only deposit of beautiful stone. To this day, the African mine supplies the world market with precious stones.
Helpful information
Only in the 80s of the 20th century did the gem appear in European countries. Here the stone was nicknamed tsavorite. Jewelers liked the mineral so much that even Tiffany craftsmen began making precious items from it. And then the world-famous company held presentations of collections of tsavorite accessories. Thanks to this support, the gem became popular in America.
The crystal is usually cut into cabochons. The result is beautiful stones that are hard to take your eyes off.
The healing properties of tsavorite
The tsavorite mineral is useful for those people who work at the computer for a long time, as it improves vision, relieves nervous tension and relieves headaches.
To do this, it is recommended to carefully examine a sample of this stone for 5-10 minutes in the evening. In addition, lithotherapists recommend jewelry with tsavorites for weather-sensitive and elderly people who experience changes in blood pressure due to sudden climate changes. Tsavorite stabilizes blood pressure, relieves headaches during magnetic storms, and alleviates other manifestations of hypersensitivity to changes in weather conditions.
Branches of application of tsavorite
Tsavorite is a popular stone in the jewelry industry. It is so beautiful in its original form that it is often not even processed. The most valuable are transparent specimens of tsavorite, and large stones weighing several carats. A similar tsavorite can be valued at $30,000. Tsavorites, which contain inclusions of other minerals and impurities, are cut into cabochons and are also used as inserts in jewelry.
Tsavorites are used to decorate earrings, rings and bracelets. Products made entirely of tsavorite are very rare and are expensive.
Who is Tsavorite suitable for?
The mineral can bring the greatest benefit to the zodiac signs belonging to the water element: Pisces and Cancer. It will give them peace, a sense of balance, and will also help them get rid of negative thoughts.
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Omi Privé ring with three round tsavorites and diamonds
The stone is also known for its benefits in family relationships. It has long been used as a talisman to help avoid quarrels and conflicts.
Recently, folk healers have recommended wearing jewelry with tsavorite for those who work in crowded places: offices, shopping centers. Tsavorite will protect the owner from the evil eye, envy and dark thoughts.
Tsavorite colors
The color range of tsavorite includes all shades of green, but the most characteristic of this stone is its bright and rich green color, reminiscent of emerald.
In general, the color of the stone is more varied than that of emeralds. There are also soft green tsavorites, the color of young grass, and rich dark green ones. Occasionally, blue-green specimens are also found in deposits.
Tsavorite is a green variety of garnet.
Gemstones got their name in ancient times, and it came from the warm countries of the East - pomegranate trees grow there, the fruits of which are filled with red juicy seeds. The stone was named for its resemblance to them. Shimmering garnet crystals fill the rock exactly like the seeds of a fruit.
But, as it turned out, garnets come in other colors.
The pomegranate palette is varied. Read about this in the article “Garnet is a chameleon among gems”
Tsavorite stone is a famous variety of the well-known garnet. Only tsavorite is not red, like the grains of a delicious oriental fruit, but emerald green, like an exotic kiwi.
But why does tsavorite green? Its color is given by ions of rare earth metals - chromium and vanadium, which certainly accompany tsavorite placers.
In the garnet family, green tsavorite is not alone. This color is characteristic of its “relatives” - grossular, demantoid, uvarovite.
When searching on Runet sites, you can find the spelling tsavolit .
In foreign sources, the name of the stone is written in two ways: Tsavorite or T savolite. In addition, tsavorite is often called Kenyan emerald .
Running away from the black buffalo
In the mid-60s of the last century, a young geologist Campbell Bridges, on instructions from the British Atomic Energy Association, went to Tanzania in search of deposits of beryllium, one of the important components of nuclear reactors.
One day in the savannah he was attacked by a black African buffalo.
This mighty African bull, weighing a ton, was furious about something. The frightened geologist jumped into a nearby ravine, washed out by a recent rainstorm, and froze on the slope. He knew that black bulls have very poor eyesight; they pursue the enemy using their hearing. Indeed, the buffalo soon left.
But Campbell still did not move, looking fascinated into the clay wall of the ravine. Emerald green gems shimmered right in front of his eyes.
When he brought the stones to the geologists’ camp, one colleague said sadly: “But I just examined that ravine yesterday!” “Looking does not mean seeing,” answered the lucky one. He kept silent about the story with the buffalo.
Godfather of tsavorite
The then president of Tiffany & Co, Sir Henry Platt, suggested that the green gem should be named after the place where it was found - Tsavo National Park. He met Bridges at a traditional gem fair in Tucson (USA), where Mr. Campbell was presenting his find, and since then they have had a strong friendship.
Bridges soon became Tiffany's main expert; collectors and jewelers from all over the world turned to the now famous gemologist for advice.
From geologists to millionaires
Bridges left the nomadic life of a geologist behind. He took a large plot of land in concession and organized the mining of precious tsavorite. Millions of dollars poured into his bank account. A former geologist built a cozy house in the savannah, which was guarded by fleet-footed tame cheetahs. World celebrities who came to Kenya on safari visited here.
In this photo, Bridges shows tsavorite from the latest batch mined at his African mine.
But not everything turned out so rosy. Africans from the local Maasai tribe worked at the mine. They believed that the precious stones rightfully belonged to them - after all, the gems lay in the ancestral land of the Maasai.
Repeatedly, the guards arrested miners who tried to steal the mined stones. The thieves were handed over to the police, then they were tried and sent to jail. So the owner of the mine had many enemies. In addition, Maasai elders have more than once filed lawsuits challenging the right of the newly arrived Englishman to mine gems in Tsavo National Park.
The result of the tsavorite dispute
The conflict continued for many years. During this time, Bridges and his son Bruce contacted Kenyan authorities, complaining of death threats.
On August 11, 2009, they drove a Land Rover to their mines. On the way, the car was attacked by a whole gang of Africans armed with machetes and spears. Bruce was seriously wounded, and Campbell Bridges died from his injuries on the way to the hospital. He was 71 years old.
How to distinguish real tsavorite from a fake
Tsavorite is a rare mineral; they have not yet learned how to create it artificially, and since the demand for the stone is growing, imitations of natural tsavorite made from jewelry glass or synthetic aluminum garnet appear on the market every now and then.
Only a density specialist can distinguish them when viewed under high magnification. In addition, in appearance, tsavorites are very similar to uvarovites, demantoids and emeralds. The first two, as cheaper stones, can also be used to imitate tsavorite.
How to avoid becoming a victim of deceivers
Tsavorite is a rare stone and therefore expensive. It is not grown artificially, but there are plenty of fakes - made from painted glass, plastic and less expensive minerals. Methods for identifying the original:
- does not heat up in your hands for a long time;
- weighs no more than 3 carats (larger stones are unique);
- the price is high;
- imperfect color: color transitions are visible;
- there is a glow effect in the sun;
- deposit exclusively in Africa.
Tsavorite stone is not refined, because... its color is already rich.
The best way to avoid falling for scammers is to purchase jewelry or healing stones from trusted stores and read the documentation.
A magnificent African discovery, rare and expensive tsavorite adorns museum and private mineralogical collections. More democratic specimens are used to make jewelry for people seeking to emphasize their social status. Small pebbles successfully serve as a personal amulet and talisman.
How to care for tsavorite
Tsavorite has sufficient hardness and strength.
But still, they handle it with care, protecting it from prolonged exposure to sunlight and high humidity. It is recommended to remove products containing this stone when working with household chemicals. Clean tsavorites with warm soapy water and a soft cloth, rinse under running water, dry and polish with a soft cloth.
Stone care
Tsavorite has sufficient strength and hardness not to be afraid of scratches, but no one has canceled the caring attitude towards gems. Store it in a separate box covered with a soft cloth.
You can wash the gem with water or a mild soap solution, and then immediately dry it with a dry cloth.
This magical gift of the earth’s depths should not be left in the sun for too long, as this may cause the color to fade.
Tsavorite is a very expensive stone, but this does not stop true connoisseurs of the beauty of the gifts of the underworld. If you don’t chase size and purity, then the stone is accessible to people of average income.
Tsavorite and zodiac sign
Tsavorite is favorable to the signs of the zodiac - representatives of the water element.
The gem especially favors Cancers and Pisces. Representatives of these signs are often prone to react negatively to everything that happens. In such cases, tsavorite becomes an excellent helper for restoring mental balance. Since astrologers have not found any contraindications for the use of tsavorite, representatives of other signs can also safely use jewelry, amulets and talismans with this mineral.
Combination with other stones
Tsavorite looks gorgeous in jewelry, so it is rarely combined with other gems. The only color that can highlight the already expressive shine and shade of the stone is white. For this purpose, tsavorite is sometimes framed with transparent stones - diamonds, rock crystal, cubic zirconia or zircon.
Prices for tsavorite products
The average cost of jewelry with tsavorites is in the range of 200-2000 dollars. Large-sized stones are very rare, and for this reason their price is very high - from 20,000 to 30,000 dollars. The most popular jewelry today are tsavorites set in silver, which look very impressive in daylight.
Where is the mineral used?
Tsavorite is taken by jewelers; it is used only in the premium segment:
- Tsavorites are present in the jewelry of first-line jewelry and fashion houses: Chopard, Tiffany, Chaumet.
- The stone is in the Emotion collection (2013) by Faberge.
- Cutting is carried out by masters from Kenya, Tanzania, and Germany. Their mission is to preserve the outlines of the crystals as much as possible.
- Tsavorite is especially good in a white setting: platinum and white gold. Although it looks luxurious with silver.
- Its jewelry neighbors are diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, and zircons.
Among the admirers of the Kenyan emerald was Grace Kelly, a Hollywood diva who became the Princess of Monaco in 1956.
Ring with tsavorite
Interesting facts about tsavorite:
- The bulk of tsavorite crystals found does not exceed 5 carats in weight. Finding this mineral is very difficult, since its crystals in deposits either disappear or suddenly appear again.
- Externally, emeralds and tsavorites are very similar, but upon closer examination it turns out that these stones are very different from each other. In terms of composition, tsavorite belongs to garnets; they consist of calcium and aluminum silicates, and the green color is associated with the presence of chromium and vanadium in their composition. It’s not for nothing that tsavorite is also called “vanadium garnet.” Tsavorite is 200 times less common than emerald and has a much lower specific gravity. Therefore it is much easier to process.
Fakes
No one has ever succeeded in making synthetic tsavorite, so if you meet a merchant offering to buy a “synthetic Kenyan emerald” at a reasonable price, you can rest assured that he is deceiving you.
A glass fake can be easily identified by its significantly lower shine and refraction of light rays. In addition, a fake can be recognized by running a stone across the glass. Real tsavorite will leave a scratch, but a fake will not.
Other precious stones such as demantoid or uvarovite may be passed off as this rare stone, which is hundreds of times rarer than emerald. Only an experienced jeweler can distinguish them from tsavorite.
A distinctive feature of this unique gem is its special glow in daylight, but you won’t notice it in the store. Unfortunately, this glow of tsavorite cannot be seen in the photo, so in doubtful cases, contact experienced experts.
