U
UVAROVITE
Name: Named after Count Sergei Semenovitch Uvarov, a Russian statesman and president of the Imperial Academy of Sciences.
AKA: Calcium Chromium Garnet
Description: The rarest of the green garnets that is almost exclusively found as a thin, sparkling crust of tiny, emerald-green crystals coating a matrix of white rock (usually chromite).
Chemical Composition: (Ca3Cr2Si3O12)
Variety: Garnet.
Color: Vivid, intense emerald green. The color is caused by chromium, giving it a hue nearly identical to fine emerald.
Treatments: None.
Moh’s Hardness: 6.5 – 7.0
Toughness: Fair to Good.
Location Found: Canada; Finland; Norway; Russia (Ural Mountains—the original type locality); South Africa.
Birthstone: January.
Wedding Anniversaries: 2nd.
Zodiac Signs: Aquarius; Gemini.
Chakra Associations: Heart.
Historical Associations: Detoxification; prosperity; abundance; individuality; confidence; expressing true, inner self; enhance energy flow.
Historically Used to Treat: clear toxins; clear blood; detoxification; overactive heart; emotional wounds/hurt.
Care: Handle with care; if the matrix it grows on is brittle, the crystals may flake off. Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners. Avoid all liquids, soaps, and chemicals as they can seep into the matrix and damage the bonds holding the crystals to the matrix. Use a soft, dry brush or compressed air to remove dust. Always store in a protective, padded box and never with other jewelry can rub against it.
Imitations: Rarely imitated, though crushed-glass glues can sometimes look superficially similar.
Synthetics: None.