Tsavorite is a rare, deep green variety of grossular garnet, a type of garnet, calcium-aluminum silicate. The emerald green color comes from vanadium and chromium. Tsavorite is similar to emerald, but is rarer and more durable; it also has a higher refractive index, 1.74. Tsavorite stones over two carats are considered large and are very rare. Tsavorite has a hardness of 7.5 and a specific gravity of 3.6. Tsavorite is found in east Africa; it was named by Harry B. Platt of Tiffany & Co. for the Tsavo National Park in Kenya, where this gemstone was originally found in 1967. Tsavorite is not enhanced.
Tsavorite or tsavolite is a member of the garnet family group grossular which is a calcium-aluminium garnet with the formula Ca3Al2Si3O12)Gemological Institute of America, GIA Gem Reference Guide 1995, ISBN:0-87311-019-6 Trace amounts of vanadium or chromium provide the green color.