Uvarovite

Uvarovite
General
CategoryNesosilicate
Formula
(repeating unit)
Ca3Cr2Si3O12
IMA symbolUv[1]
Strunz classification9.AD.25
Crystal systemCubic
Crystal classHexoctahedral (m3m)
H-M symbol: (4/m 3 2/m)
Space groupIa3d
Unit cella = 11.99 Å; Z = 8
Identification
ColorGreen, emerald-green, green-black
Crystal habitEuhedral crystals, granular, massive
FractureUneven, conchoidal
Mohs scale hardness6.5–7.5
LusterVitreous
StreakWhite
DiaphaneityTransparent, translucent
Specific gravity3.77–3.81
Optical propertiesIsotropic
Refractive indexn = 1.865
Other characteristicsFluorescent red in both short and long UV
References[2][3][4]

Uvarovite is a chromium-bearing garnet group species with the formula: Ca3Cr2(SiO4)3. It was discovered in 1832 by Germain Henri Hess who named it after Count Sergei Uvarov (1765–1855), a Russian statesman and amateur mineral collector.[2] It is classified in the ugrandite group alongside the other calcium-bearing garnets andradite and grossular.[5]

Uvarovite is the rarest of the common members of the garnet group,[6] and is the only consistently green garnet species, with an emerald-green color. It occurs as well-formed fine-sized crystals.

  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ a b Uvarovite on Mindat.org
  3. ^ Uvarovite in the Handbook of Mineralogy
  4. ^ Uvarovite data on Webmineral
  5. ^ Winchell, Alexander N. (1933). "Garnet Group". Elements of Optical Mineralogy: an Introduction to Microscopic Petrography – Part II. Descriptions of Minerals (3 ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p. 174. hdl:2027/uc1.b3124253.
  6. ^ Isaacs, T. (1965). "A study of uvarovite" (PDF). Mineralogical Magazine. 35 (269): 38–45. Bibcode:1965MinM...35...38I. doi:10.1180/minmag.1965.035.269.06.