Specific Gravity Values of Selected Gems
Measuring specific gravity helps gemologists identify gemstones. The following table lists the specific gravity values for a variety of gem materials.
3 Minute Read
In order to
identify gemstones, gemologists often measure theirdensity
or specific gravity. The following table lists the specific gravity values for a variety of materials commonly found in gem and jewelry collections, as well as for some materials more rarely encountered.
Table of Specific Gravity Values
| Gemstone | Density |
| Gold | 15.50-19.30 |
| Thorianite | 9.70-9.80 |
| Silver | 9.60-12.00 |
| Algondonite | 8.38 |
| Bismutotantalite | 8.15-8.89 |
| Cinnabar | 8.00-8.20 |
| Stolzite | 7.90-8.34 |
| Niccolite | 7.78 |
| Manganotantalite | 7.73-7.97 |
| Melonite | 7.72 |
| Breithauptite | 7.59-8.23 |
| Stibiotantalite | 7.53 |
| Mimetite | 7.24 |
| Huebnerite | 7.12-7.18 |
| Wolframite | 7.10-7.60 |
| Gadolinium gallium garnet (GGG)* | 7.00-7.09 |
| Cassiterite | 6.70-7.10 |
| Wulfenite | 6.50-7.00 |
| Vanadinite | 6.50-7.10 |
| Cerussite | 6.46-6.57 |
| Cobaltite | 6.33 |
| Anglesite | 6.30-6.39 |
| Phosgenite | 6.13 |
| Simpsonite | 5.92-6.84 |
| Scheelite | 5.90-6.30 |
| Crocoite | 5.90-6.10 |
| Cuprite | 5.85-6.15 |
| Pyrargyrite | 5.85 |
| Yttrotantalite | 5.70 |
| Zincite | 5.66 |
| Proustite | 5.51-5.64 |
| Descloizite | 5.50-6.20 |
| Chalcosite | 5.50-5.80 |
| Cubic zirconia (CZ)* | 5.50-6.00 |
| Millerite | 5.50 |
| Fergusonite | 5.35-5.44 |
| Euxenite | 5.30-5.90 |
| Linarite | 5.30 |
| Senarmontite | 5.20-5.50 |
| Magnetite | 5.20 |
| Aeschynite | 5.19 |
| Tantalite | 5.18-8.20 |
| Hematite | 5.12-5.28 |
| Fabulite (Tausonite) | 5.11-5.15 |
| Bornite | 5.06-5.08 |
| Boleite | 5.05 |
| Samarskite | 5.00-5.69 |
| Pyrite | 5.00-5.20 |
| Monazite | 4.98-5.43 |
| Bixbyite** | 4.93 |
| Marcasite | 4.83-4.92 |
| Greenockite | 4.73-4.79 |
| Psilomelane (Manganese oxide) | 4.70-4.74 |
| Linobate (Lithium niobate)* | 4.64-4.66 |
| Pentlandite | 4.60-5.00 |
| Covellite | 4.60-4.76 |
| Yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG)* | 4.55-4.65 |
| Ilmenite | 4.50-5.00 |
| Pyrolusite | 4.50-5.00 |
| Chromite | 4.50-4.80 |
| Davidite | 4.50 |
| Barite | 4.43-4.46 |
| Magnesiochromite | 4.39-4.67 |
| Bayldonite | 4.35 |
| Parisite | 4.33-4.42 |
| Microlite | 4.30-5.70 |
| Adamite | 4.30-4.68 |
| Witherite | 4.27-4.79 |
| Galaxite | 4.23 |
| Powellite | 4.23 |
| Rutile | 4.20-4.30 |
| Spessartite garnet | 4.12-4.18 |
| Shattuckite | 4.11 |
| Chalcopyrite | 4.10-4.30 |
| Wurtzite | 4.09 |
| Brookite | 4.08-4.18 |
| Hancockite | 4.03 |
| Painite | 4.01 |
| Gadolinite | 4.00-4.65 |
| Smithsonite | 4.00-4.65 |
| Gahnite | 4.00-4.62 |
| Legrandite | 3.98-4.04 |
| Ruby | 3.97-4.05 |
| Celestite | 3.97-4.00 |
| Libethenite | 3.97 |
| Ferrosilite | 3.96 |
| Sapphire | 3.95-4.03 |
| Durangite | 3.94-4.07 |
| Zircon | 3.93-4.73 |
| Almandine garnet | 3.93-4.30 |
| Hodgkinsonite | 3.91-3.99 |
| Sphalerite | 3.90-4.10 |
| Willemite | 3.89-4.18 |
| Tephroite | 3.87-4.12 |
| Siderite | 3.83-3.96 |
| Anatase | 3.82-3.97 |
| Goethite | 3.80-4.30 |
| Gaspéite | 3.71 |
| Andradite garnet | 3.70-4.10 |
| Azurite | 3.70-3.90 |
| Periclase | 3.70-3.90 |
| Chrysoberyl (Cat's eye, Alexandrite) | 3.70-3.78 |
| Schorlomite*** | 3.69-3.88 |
| Barytocalcite | 3.66 |
| Staurolite | 3.65-3.77 |
| Benitoite | 3.64-3.68 |
| Strontianite | 3.63-3.79 |
| Pyrope garnet | 3.62-3.87 |
| Pyroxmangite | 3.61-3.80 |
| Holtite | 3.60-3.90 |
| Taafeite | 3.60-3.62 |
| Grossular garnet | 3.56-3.73 |
| Realgar | 3.56 |
| Spinel | 3.54-3.63 |
| Kyanite | 3.53-3.70 |
| Nambulite | 3.53 |
| Sphene (Titanite) | 3.52-3.54 |
| Allanite | 3.50-4.20 |
| Aegirine | 3.50-3.60 |
| Hedenbergite | 3.50-3.56 |
| Diamond | 3.50-3.53 |
| Topaz | 3.49-3.57 |
| Chambersite | 3.49 |
| Sinhalite | 3.46-3.50 |
| Rhodochrosite | 3.45-3.70 |
| Piedmontite | 3.45-3.52 |
| Euchroite | 3.44 |
| Rhodizite | 3.44 |
| Serendibite | 3.42-3.52 |
| Uvarovite garnet | 3.41-3.52 |
| Rhodonite | 3.40-3.74 |
| Lithiophilite | 3.40-3.60 |
| Sapphirine | 3.40-3.58 |
| Aegirine-augite | 3.40-3.55 |
| Hypersthene | 3.40-3.50 |
| Chromdravite | 3.40 |
| Scorzalite | 3.38 |
| Tinzenite | 3.36-3.43 |
| Tanzanite | 3.35 |
| Triphylite | 3.34-3.58 |
| Dickinsonite | 3.34-3.41 |
| Idocrase (Vesuvianite) | 3.32-3.47 |
| Bustamite | 3.32-3.42 |
| Serandite | 3.32 |
| Manganaxinite | 3.31 |
| Epidote | 3.30-3.50 |
| Hemimorphite | 3.30-3.50 |
| Diaspore | 3.30-3.39 |
| Jadeite | 3.30-3.38 |
| Peridot | 3.28-4.39 |
| Dioptase | 3.28-3.35 |
| Ekanite | 3.28-3.32 |
| Jeremejevite | 3.28-3.31 |
| Parascorodite | 3.28-3.29 |
| Forsterite | 3.28 |
| Kornerupine | 3.27-3.45 |
| Dumortierite | 3.26-3.41 |
| Axinite | 3.26-3.36 |
| Povondraite | 3.28 |
| Malachite | 3.25-4.10 |
| Ferroaxinite | 3.25-4.10 |
| Papagoite | 3.25 |
| Smaragdite | 3.24-3.50 |
| Sillimanite | 3.23-3.27 |
| Diopside | 3.22-3.38 |
| Väyrynenite | 3.22 |
| Weloganite | 3.22 |
| Clinozoisite | 3.21-3.28 |
| Helvite | 3.20-3.44 |
| Purpurite | 3.20-3.40 |
| Humite | 3.20-3.32 |
| Enstatite | 3.20-3.30 |
| Neptunite | 3.19-3.23 |
| Clinoenstatite | 3.19 |
| Rinkite | 3.18-3.44 |
| Pumpellyite | 3.18-3.33 |
| Magnesioaxinite | 3.18 |
| Norbergite | 3.18 |
| Chlorapatite | 3.17-3.18 |
| Chondrodite | 3.16-3.26 |
| Apatite | 3.16-3.23 |
| Strass | 3.15-4.20 |
| Zoisite (non-Tanzanite) | 3.15-3.36 |
| Spodumene (Hiddenite, Kunzite) | 3.15-3.21 |
| Hureaulite | 3.15-3.19 |
| Sellaite | 3.15 |
| Clinohumite | 3.13-3.75 |
| Fluorapatite | 3.10-3.25 |
| Moissanite (Carborundum)* | 3.10-3.22 |
| Ludlamite | 3.10-3.20 |
| Euclase | 3.10 |
| Lawsonite | 3.08-3.09 |
| Phosphophyllite | 3.07-3.13 |
| Friedelite | 3.06-3.19 |
| Andalusite | 3.05-3.20 |
| Eosphorite | 3.05-3.08 |
| Pargasite | 3.04-3.17 |
| Lazulite | 3.04-3.14 |
| Actinolite | 3.03-3.44 |
| Spurrite | 3.02 |
| Amblygonite | 3.01-3.11 |
| Fluorite | 3.00-3.25 |
| Meliphanite | 3.00-3.03 |
| Leucophanite | 3.00 |
| Schlossmacherite | 3.00 |
| Chiolite | 2.99-3.01 |
| Montebrasite | 2.98-3.11 |
| Brazilianite | 2.98-2.99 |
| Richterite | 2.97-3.45 |
| Danburite | 2.97-3.03 |
| Ankerite | 2.97 |
| Cryolite | 2.97 |
| Magnesite | 2.96-3.12 |
| Tremolite | 2.95-3.07 |
| Herderite | 2.95-3.02 |
| Phenakite | 2.95-2.97 |
| Boracite | 2.95-2.96 |
| Aragonite | 2.94 |
| Vlasovite | 2.92-2.96 |
| Sarcolite | 2.91-2.96 |
| Hornblende | 2.90-3.40 |
| Nephrite | 2.90-3.03 |
| Datolite | 2.90-3.00 |
| Anhydrite | 2.90-2.98 |
| Prosopite | 2.88-2.89 |
| Hurlbutite | 2.88 |
| Zunyite | 2.87 |
| Wollastonite | 2.86-3.09 |
| Grandidierite | 2.85-3.00 |
| Pollucite | 2.85-2.94 |
| Langbeinite | 2.83 |
| Tourmaline | 2.82-3.90 |
| Prehnite | 2.82-2.94 |
| Wardite | 2.81-2.87 |
| Dolomite | 2.80-2.95 |
| Lepidolite | 2.80-2.90 |
| Beryllonite | 2.80-2.87 |
| Zektzerite | 2.79 |
| Muscovite | 2.78-2.88 |
| Sogdianite | 2.76-2.90 |
| Sugilite | 2.76-2.80 |
| Sekaninaite | 2.76-2.77 |
| Ammolite | 2.75-2.80 |
| Eudialyte | 2.74-2.98 |
| Pectolite (Larimar) | 2.74-2.88 |
| Meionite | 2.74-2.78 |
| Bytownite | 2.72-2.74 |
| Catapleiite | 2.72 |
| Creedite | 2.72 |
| Xonotlite | 2.71-2.72 |
| Canasite | 2.71 |
| Ceruleite | 2.70-2.80 |
| Augelite | 2.70-2.75 |
| Calcite | 2.69-2.71 |
| Aquamarine | 2.68-2.74 |
| Emerald | 2.67-2.78 |
| Precious Beryl**** | 2.66-2.87 |
| Pyrophyllite | 2.65-2.90 |
| Labradorite | 2.65-2.75 |
| Andesine | 2.65-2.69 |
| Quartz (Amethyst, Citrine, Prasiolite, Rock crystal, Rose quartz, Smoky quartz) | 2.65 |
| Vivianite | 2.64-2.70 |
| Aventurine | 2.64-2.69 |
| Kämmererite | 2.64 |
| Oligoclase | 2.62-2.67 |
| Sunstone | 2.62-2.65 |
| Pearl | 2.60-2.85 |
| Coral | 2.60-2.70 |
| Agate | 2.60-2.64 |
| Schaurteite | 2.60 |
| Peristerite | 2.59-2.68 |
| Petrified wood | 2.58-2.91 |
| Jasper | 2.58-2.91 |
| Cordierite | 2.58-2.66 |
| Chalcedony | 2.58-2.64 |
| Chrysoprase | 2.58-2.64 |
| Moss agate | 2.58-2.64 |
| Tiger's eye | 2.58-2.64 |
| Scapolite | 2.57-2.74 |
| Anorthoclase | 2.75-2.60 |
| Moonstone | 2.56-2.59 |
| Amazonite | 2.56-2.58 |
| Orthoclase | 2.56-2.58 |
| Sanidine | 2.56-2.58 |
| Talc | 2.55-2.80 |
| Nepheline | 2.55-2.65 |
| Lizardite | 2.55 |
| Charoite | 2.54-2.78 |
| Microcline | 2.54-2.57 |
| Clinochrysotile | 2.53 |
| Lapis lazuli | 2.50-3.00 |
| Marialite | 2.50-2.62 |
| Milarite | 2.46-2.61 |
| Howlite | 2.45-2.58 |
| Leucite | 2.45-2.50 |
| Carletonite | 2.45 |
| Serpentine | 2.44-2.62 |
| Variscite | 2.42-2.58 |
| Haüyne | 2.40-2.50 |
| Colemanite | 2.40-2.42 |
| Petalite | 2.40 |
| Brucite | 2.39 |
| Tugtupite | 2.36-2.57 |
| Wavellite | 2.36 |
| Obsidian (natural glass) | 2.35-2.60 |
| Hambergite | 2.35 |
| Moldavite (natural glass) | 2.32-2.38 |
| Turquoise | 2.31-2.84 |
| Apophyllite | 2.30-2.50 |
| Thomsonite | 2.23-2.39 |
| Analcime | 2.22-2.29 |
| Palygorskite | 2.21 |
| Cacoxenite | 2.20-2.60 |
| Gypsum | 2.20-2.40 |
| Zeolite (Natrolite, Mesolite, Scolecite) | 2.20-2.29 |
| Whewellite | 2.19-2.25 |
| Yugawaralite | 2.19-2.23 |
| Stichtite | 2.16-2.18 |
| Sodalite | 2.14-2.40 |
| Mordenite | 2.12-2.15 |
| Chabazite | 2.05-2.20 |
| Sulfur | 2.05-2.08 |
| Glass (artificial)* | 2.00-4.50 |
| Chrysocolla | 2.00-2.40 |
| Sepiolite | 2.00-2.10 |
| Gaylussite | 1.99 |
| Opal | 1.88-2.50 |
| Thaumasite | 1.91 |
| Kurnakovite | 1.86 |
| Sturmanite | 1.85 |
| Inderite | 1.78-1.86 |
| Ettringite | 1.77 |
| Ulexite | 1.65-1.95 |
| Mellite | 1.64 |
| Jet | 1.19-1.35 |
| Amber | 1.05-1.09 |
Notes
* Lab-created gem material.
** This is not bixbite, the gemstone better known as red beryl.
*** Non-gem garnet species.
**** Non-aquamarine/non-emerald varieties of beryl.
International Gem Society
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