Veberod Bulletin December 2012 Tsavorite All natural green from the African Savanna Imagine prospecting in the rolling hills of and the rest of the world. East Africa near Tsavo National Park. Lions, Unfortunately Campbell Bridges’ life of leopards and rhinos are just a few of the incred- adventure caught up with him in 2009. He was ible variety of mammals that live on the savanna. attacked, not by wild animals, but by a mob of Geologist Campbell Bridges was prospecting about twenty men armed with spears, machetes, in Northern Tanzania in 1967. He was look- and bow and arrows. While it appears the murder ing for for industrial applications when he was related to disputes over his mining claims, first spotted some green stones he identified as the assault took place during a time of political . Despite his best efforts, he was un- upheaval in Kenya and for three years there has able to export the beautiful gems at that time for been no trial. Finally in August of 2012, eight political reasons. By this time he was hooked men were brought to trial in the Mombasa courts. though and was convinced that the same geologic The case is still ongoing. strata would contain the elusive green garnets So why are jewelers so excited about this elsewhere if he explored the seam wherever it newcomer to the gem world? Well, color is one surfaced. In 1971, Campbell’s perseverance was obvious reason. Tsavorite comes in a range of rewarded with the discovery of another outcrop- greens, and the best of them can be compared ping in Kenya, very close to Tsavo Park. This to for a fraction of the price. Tsavor- time he was able to get the necessary permits and ite is also a very brilliant stone due to its high began mining in earnest. At the time he lived in , so it looks good set with dia- a tree house for protection from all the wildlife. monds. In addition tsavorite, like all garnets is A python was even reportedly used as a guard for still untreated in any way. Garnets are about 7.5 the mined stones! on the Moh’s scale in hardness and their crystal Green garnets other than were structure makes them particularly robust so they unknown in the market at that time, but Henry are suitable for everyday wear. Tsavorite meets Platt, president of Tiffany Company was immedi- all the criteria for a precious stone, and I think we 1.32 tsavorite ately enthusiastic about the can expect great things in its future. garnet and 0.30 ctw new find and its potential. What makes a particular garnet be green in 18KT & Together with Bridges, they instead of red? Both the chemical structure, and 14KT gold $3100 proposed the name tsavor- the presence of trace elements. Tsavorite is green Tsavorite garnet and white in ite in honor of the source grossularite, which is the rich member fine silver PMC $599 area in 1973. The name of the garnet family. Chemically, this gemstone Tsavorite garnet in was formally accepted by is a calcium aluminum silicate colored by traces 14KT and silver ear- CIBJO, the international of and/or vanadium oxide. If there is rings $799 body responsible for such a yellowish hue to the green, this would indicate Tsavorite garnet and things, and Tiffany began the presence of iron oxide. The more common fossil mammoth tooth in gold and silver promoting tsavorite and red garnets are iron aluminum silicates. pendant. Inset shows making it known to cus- reverse $1799 tomers in the United States

Veberod Gem Gallery 13023 Ridgedale Drive Minnetonka, MN 952-595-8338 www.vgems.net