Free Worldwide Shipping over $38 · Duties Covered on Eligible Routes · Trusted by 2,000+ Collectors · ★ Top-Rated Etsy Seller

Uvarovite

Crystal system · Isometric

Uvarovite is a silicate mineral recognized for its hardness and durability, with known Chinese sources.

Uvarovite specimen
Photo: Géry PARENT · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

About Uvaroviteextended article

Crystal Structure
Ca₃Cr₂(SiO₄)₃.
Elemental Composition (by mass)
ElementMass %Visual
O Oxygen38.36%
Ca Calcium24.02%
Cr Chromium20.78%
Si Silicon16.84%
Computed from simplified end-member formula. Solid-solution series, water content, and trace substitutions cause real-world variation.
IMA Abbreviation (Whitney-Evans 2010)
Uv
→ Uvarovite
Garnet
Standard symbol from American Mineralogist (Whitney & Evans, 2010). Used in thin-section labeling, phase diagrams, and IMA-style species records.
Pronunciation
/uˈvɑːrəvaɪt/
↔ oo-VAH-ruh-vite
for Count Uvarov
Diaphaneity (Transparency)
translucent-to-opaque
Crystals usually small; translucent at edges.
Type Locality
Saranovskoye, Ural — Russia
Described 1832 by Hess (named for Count S.S. Uvarov)
Mohs 6.5–7.5
Vickers (~) 1400 HV
Knoop (~) 1100 HK
Element composition by mass

Formula: Ca₃Cr₂(SiO₄)₃ · molar mass: 500.47 g/mol

O 38.36%
Ca 24.02%
Cr 20.78%
Si 16.84%

Computed from atomic weights (IUPAC 2021). Site-occupancy groups (Fe,Mn) split equally.

GroupGarnet Group
Related members: Almandine · Pyrope · Spessartine · Andradite · Grossular
Mohs Hardness 6.5–7.5

Uvarovite sits at 6.5–7.5 on the Mohs scale — harder than glass; scratches steel.

Colors:
Streak
White
Crystal system
Isometric (Cubic)
SilicatesSilicates (Nesosilicates)
TL;DR · 1 min read
Uvarovite (Ca₃Cr₂(SiO₄)₃) is the chromium end-member of the garnet group and one of the rarest collector garnets. Its brilliant emerald-green color comes from chromium substitution in the garnet structure, and unlike most garnets it almost always occurs as small druzy microcrystal coatings on chromite host rock rather than as large solo crystals.

Uvarovite (Ca₃Cr₂(SiO₄)₃) is the chromium end-member of the garnet group and one of the rarest collector garnets. Its brilliant emerald-green color comes from chromium substitution in the garnet structure, and unlike most garnets it almost always occurs as small druzy microcrystal coatings on chromite host rock rather than as large solo crystals. The Saranovskii Mine in the Ural Mountains of Russia is the world’s premier source, supplying iconic emerald-green druzy plates that are display centerpieces in major mineral collections.

More minerals to explore

Other Members of the Garnet Group

石榴石族

About Uvarovite

Uvarovite is a silicate mineral in the garnet group (ugrandite series) and has the chemical formula Ca3Cr2(SiO4)3. It crystallizes in the isometric system and ranks among the harder species, with lasting durability. Its combination of structural character and global distribution make it a recognized species in both systematic and aesthetic collections.

Identification & care

Uvarovite typically forms small dodecahedral and trapezohedron crystals; drusy crusts on chromite; rarely large enough to facet. The luster is vitreous, adamantine, the streak is white, and specimens range from transparent to translucent. The fracture is conchoidal, uneven, which is one of its key identifying features.

Collector context

How it forms

In terms of geology, Uvarovite forms in chromite deposits in serpentinite/ophiolite complexes; skarns adjacent to chromite lenses; metamorphosed ultrabasic rocks. It is commonly found in association with chromite, serpentine, diopside, calcite, chlorite.

Classic Chinese localities

Uvarovite has known Chinese occurrences in Hebei.

Why collectors care

Uvarovite is a frequently-sought species in serious collections because its habit is recognizable, its color often strong, and its best examples unmistakable even at a distance. Chinese material has driven much of the recent visual shift in the species — sharper crystals, deeper colors, cleaner matrix.

What affects value

Value in Uvarovite is assessed, in typical order of weight, against: (1) locality provenance; (2) size relative to the species norm; (3) crystal form and termination sharpness; (4) color saturation and zoning; (5) transparency and internal clarity; (6) matrix quality and aesthetic balance; (7) condition (absence of damage, chips, or repair). Cleaning quality and verified locality documentation act as multipliers across the above.

Naming history

The name Uvarovite has a specific etymological and historical context — see Mindat's reference entry for provenance details. We have retained naming data at the record level; published prose is paraphrased from factual fields rather than copied from source.

Frequently asked questions

What is Uvarovite?

Uvarovite is a silicate mineral recognized for its hardness and durability, with known Chinese sources.

What is the chemical formula of Uvarovite?

The chemical formula of Uvarovite is Ca3Cr2(SiO4)3.

What crystal system does Uvarovite belong to?

Uvarovite crystallises in the Isometric crystal system.

References & databases

Mindat.org is the world’s largest open mineralogy database. Our descriptions are written independently and fact-checked.