Uvarovite is the rarest of the familiar Garnets, and is seldom used as a gem. The term Garnet describes a group name for several closely related minerals that form important gemstones, and Uvarovite is an individual member mineral of the Garnet group. It only occurs in very small crystals, and crystals are rarely large enough for faceting. The color of Uvarovite is a deep chrome-green, and Uvarovite is a unique Garnet being that it only comes in one color.
About
The most common habit of Uvarovite is in tiny lustrous crystals coating a matrix. This drusy form of Uvarovite, from the most famous deposit of this mineral in Russia, sparkles with an intense deep green color, and is occasionally polished in this form together with the matrix. Crystals large enough to be faceted and with transparency are extremely rare and are faceted only for collectors.
Uses
The drusy form of Uvarovite is occasionally polished together with its matrix and used as a rare gemstone form, mainly as pendants and rings.
Treatments & Enhancements
Uvarovite Garnets are naturally colored and not enhanced.
Sources
The main source of Uvarovite is the type locality in Russia. Other localities include Finland, Turkey, Italy, and the U.S. (California).
