Uvarovite

Uvarovite is a chromium bearing garnet: Ca₃Cr₂(SiO₄)₃.

It was discovered in 1832 and is named after Count Sergei Semenovitch Uvarov (1765-1855), a Russian statesman and ardent amateur mineral collector.

Uvarovite is the rarest of all the garnets, and is the only consistently green garnet, with a beautiful emerald-green color. It occurs as well-formed fine sized crystals. Specimens of uvarovite are much sought after by collectors for outstanding brilliance and color.

It is found associated with chromium ores in Spain, Russia, and Quebec in Canada. It also occurs in Finland, Norway, and South Africa. It is also used as a tracer mineral in the search for diamonds because it commonly occurs with diamond in kimberlite pipes.

See also

• List of minerals