Tsavorite is the bright green variety of grossularite, which is itself one of the six fundamental sub-species of garnet. As with emerald, this coloration is due to the presence of trace chromium and/or vanadium atoms within the mineral’s internal crystal structure. However, while lacking the name-recognition of its aforementioned green counterpart, tsavorite is widely thought of as being superior to emerald in almost every other regard.

During the late-1960s, green grossularite was first discovered in Tanzania by the British geologist Campbell R Bridges, but the country’s political situation at the time prevented any commercial exploitation from taking place. Fortunately, the deposit was found to extend into Kenya’s neighbouring Tsavo National Park, and Bridges was instead able to successfully obtain mining rights from a more cooperative Kenyan government.

Despite having been found in small quantities in Madagascar, Pakistan and Antarctica, Tanzania and Kenya remain the only commercially-significant tsavorite sources.