Uvarovite (variety of Garnet)
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Uvarovite is named after Count Sergei Semenovich Uvarov (1786-1855), Russian nobleman, President of Academy of Sciences.

Discovered in 1832;   IMA status:  Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered)

Chemistry

Chemical Formula:

Ca₃Cr₂(SiO₄)₃

Calcium Chromium Silicate

Molecular Weight:

500.48 gm

Composition:

Calcium

24.02 %

Ca

33.61 %

CaO

Chromium

20.78 %

Cr

27.17 %

CrO

Silicon

16.84 %

Si

36.02 %

SiO₂

Oxygen

38.36 %

O

100.00 %

100.00 %

= TOTAL OXIDE

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Silicates (Germanates)

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

8/A.08-130

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

9.AD.25

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
D : Nesosilicates without additional anions; cations in [6] and/or greater coordination

Related to:

Garnet Group. Grossular-Uvarovite Series. Ugrandite Series.

Members of Group:

Garnet Group: Almandine, Andradite, Berzeliite, Bitikleite, Calderite, Goldmanite, Grossular, Henritermierite, Hibschite, Katoite, Kerimasite, Kimzeyite, Knorringite, Majorite, Momoiite, Morimotoite, Pyrope, Schäferite, Schorlomite, Spessartine, Toturite, Uvarovite, Yafsoanite

Varieties:

None

Synonyms:

Chrome Garnet, Chromium Garnet, Ouvarovite, Uvarovite Garnet

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Isometric - Hexoctahedral

Crystal Habit:

Commonly as euhedral crystals, dodecahedra or trapezohedra, or in combination with other cubic forms, to 4.5 cm. Fine or coarse granular, compact, or massive.

Twinning:

None

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

None

Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven to Conchoidal

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

6.5 - 7.0

Density:

3.77 - 3.81 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

Fluorescent; red under SW UV and LW UV

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Optical Properties

Color:

Emerald-green to dark green; in thin section, green; may be sectored.

Transparency:

Transparent to Translucent

Luster:

Vitreous

Refractive Index:

1.865  Isotropic

Birefringence:

0.000 (Isotropic minerals have no birefringence)

Dispersion:

n/a

Pleochroism:

None

Anisotrophism:

May be weakly anisotropic due to strain or symmetry reduction (triclinic and orthorhombic varieties are known).

Occurances

Geological Setting:

From hydrothermal alteration of serpentinite containing chromite; in metamorphosed limestones and skarns from the reaction of dolomite and chromite.

Common Associations:

Chromite, Diopside, Zoisite, Olivine, Dolomite, Tremolite, Quartz, Plagioclase, Epidote, Calcite, Chromian Clinochlore, Pyroxenes.

Common Impurities:

Al, Fe, Mg

Type Locality:

Saranovskii Mine (Saranovskoe), Saranovskaya (Sarany) Village, Gornozavodskii area, Permskaya Oblast', Middle Urals, Urals Region, Russia

Year Discovered:

1832

View mineral photos:

Uvarovite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Uvarovite is a rare member of the Garnet Group of minerals that includes Almandine, Andradite, Grossular, Pyrope, Spessartine and Uvarovite. Uvarovite has a beautiful emerald-green color and is the only consistenly green Garnet variety. The green color is due to the presence of chromium in its chemistry. The name has frequently been misused in the past to refer to other green and/or chromium-bearing garnets. Many so-called 'Uvarovites' are actually chromian Grossular, chromian Pyrope, green Andradite (the so-called Iranian 'uvarovite') or even the rare Knorringite (magnesium chromium garnet). Uvarovite crystals are rarely large enough for faceting and usually available only as "drusy" type cabochons.

Although Uvarovite is an uncommon Garnet, there are numerous localities. From the Saranovskii mine, Biserskoye, in the Gorozavod district, and other localities around Yekaterinburg (Sverdlovsk), Ural Mountains, Russia. Exceptional crystals from Outokumpu, Finland. From Pico do Posets, near Vénasque, Pyrenees, Spain. In Canada, at South Ham, Wolfe County, Quebec. In the USA, from Wood's Chrome mine, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; at Riddle, Grant County, Oregon; in the Red Ledge mine, near Washington, Nevada County, around Newcastle, Placer County, near New Idria, San Benito County, and elsewhere in California. On Taiwan, Formosa. From Ergani Maden and in the Kop Krom [chrome] mine, Kop Mountains, near Askale, Turkey.
 

  
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