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Density (Specific Gravity) of Gems

Density, or Specific Gravity, is a bulk property of a material. Specific Gravity is the ratio expressing the weight of a mineral compared to that of an equal volume of water at 4° C. So, a specific gravity of 3 means that, at 4° C, one cubic centimeter of the material weighs 3 times as much as one cubic centimeter of water.

Density is a useful measurement in gem identification. However, the density of a particular mineral may vary greatly, even within a single crystal, due to the presence of impurities, cracks or bubbles. The density of a mineral can be affected by several factors, including chemical composition and crystal structure. For example, Diamond and graphite are both crystalline forms of the element carbon. Diamond has a density of 3.5 because the carbon atoms are tightly packed together in the structure. Graphite on the other hand, has a looser, more open structure and has a density of only 2.2.
 

Alphabetical  Density  Index   (click here for Numerical Index)

Agate
Alexandrite
Almandine Garnet
Amazonite (Feldspar)
Amber
Amblygonite
Amethyst
Anatase
Andalusite
Anhydrite
Apatite
Apophyllite
Aquamarine
Argonite
Augelite
Aventurine
Axinite
Azurite
Barite
Benitoite
Beryl (yellow)
Beryllonite
Brazilianite
Calcite
Cancrinite
Cassiterite
Celestite
Cerussite
Chalcedony
Chalcopyrite
Chrysoberyl
Chrysocolla
Chrysoprase
Citrine
Colemanite
Coral
Crocoite
Cubic Zirconia
Cuprite
Danburite
Datolite
Demantoid Garnet
Diamond
Diopside
Dioptase
Dolomite
Dumortierite
Ekanite
Emerald
Enstatite
Epidote
Euclase (Feldspar)
Fibrolite (Sillimanite)
Fire Opal
Fluorite
Gahnite
Gahnospinel
Glass
Grossular Garnet
Hambergite
Hauyne (Hauynite)
Hematite
Hemimorphite
Hessonite Garnet
Hiddenite
Hypersthene
Idocrase
Iolite
Jadeite
Jasper
Kornakovite
Kornerupine
Kunzite
Kyanite
Labradorite (Feldspar)
Lapis Lazuli
Lazulite
Leucite
Magnesite
Malachite
Moonstone (Feldspar)
Mouldavite
Natrolite
Nephrite
Nephrite
Obsidian
Onyx
Opal
Orthoclase (Feldspar)
Pearl (cultured)
Pearl (natural)
Peridot
Peristerite
Petalite
Phenakite
Phosgenite
Pollucite
Prasiolite
Prehnite
Proustite
Purpurite
Pyrite
Pyrope Garnet
Quartz
Rhodizite
Rhodochrosite
Rhodonite
Ruby (Corundum)
Sanidine (Feldspar)
Sapphire (Corundum)
Scapolite
Scapolite
Scheelite
Serpentine
Sillimanite (Fibrolite)
Sinhalite
Smithsonite
Sodalite
Spessartine Garnet
Sphalerite
Sphene
Spinel
Spodumene
Staurolite
Staurolite
Strontium Titanate
Sunstone (Feldspar)
Taaffeite
Talc
Tantaltite
Tanzanite
Thomsonite
Tiger eye
Topaz (white)
Topaz (yellow)
Tourmaline
Tremolite
Tugtupite
Turquoise
Ulexite
Uvarovite Garnet
Verdite
Veriscite
Vivianite
Willemite
Witherite
Wulfenite
Zincite
Zircon (blue, white)
Zircon (green)
Zoisite

2.60 - 2.65
3.70 - 3.73
4.97
2.56 - 2.58
1.08
3.03
2.63 - 2.65
3.88
3.12 - 3.18
2.90 - 2.99
3.21
2.30 - 2.50
2.67 - 2.71
2.94
2.7
2.62 - 2.65
3.28
3.8
4.5
3.67
2.69
2.82
2.99
2.71
2.45
6.90
3.97 - 4.00
6.45 - 6.57
2.6
4.2
3.71
2.20
2.58 - 2.64
2.65
2.42
2.68
5.90 - 6.10
5.60 - 5.90
5.85 - 6.15
3.00 - 3.07
2.95
3.82 - 3.85
3.52
3.29
3.30
2.85 - 2.95
3.26 - 3.41
3.28
2.71
3.27
3.45
3.10
3.25
2.00
3.18
3.98
3.97
3.15 - 4.20
3.64
2.35
2.40
5.05
3.45
3.65
3.16 - 3.20
3.45
3.38
2.59
3.34
2.58 - 2.91
1.86
3.32
3.16 - 3.20
3.68
2.69
2.80
3.09
2.47
3.00 - 3.12
3.80
2.57
2.35
2.22
2.90 - 3.04
2.96
2.30 - 2.60
2.70
2.10
2.56
2.75
2.71
3.34
2.61 - 2.63
2.39
2.96
6.13
2.92
2.65
2.87
5.57 - 5.64
3.35
5.1
3.70
2.65
3.40
3.60
3.60
3.97 - 4.08
2.57
3.99 - 4.00
2.70
2.63
6.00
2.40 - 2.80
3.25
3.48
4.35
2.13 - 2.29
4.16
4.09
3.53
3.60
3.18
3.70
3.75
5.13
2.64
3.61
2.75
5.18 - 8.20
3.28 - 3.35
2.35
2.64 - 2.71
3.56
3.53
3.02 - 3.26
2.90 - 3.10
2.37 - 2.57
2.80
1.95
3.77
2.90
2.55
2.65
4.03
4.27 - 4.35
6.70 - 7.00
5.66
4.69
4.50
3.10

Numerical  Density  Index

1.08
1.86
1.95
2.00
2.10
2.20
2.22
2.13 - 2.29
2.30 - 2.60
2.30 - 2.50
2.35
2.35
2.35
2.39
2.37 - 2.57
2.40
2.42
2.45
2.47
2.55
2.56 - 2.58
2.56
2.57
2.57
2.58 - 2.64
2.59
2.60 - 2.65
2.60
2.65
2.61 - 2.63
2.62 - 2.65
2.63
2.64
2.65
2.65
2.65
2.63 - 2.65
2.68
2.69
2.69
2.70
2.70
2.64 - 2.71
2.71
2.67 - 2.71
2.70
2.71
2.71
2.75
2.75
2.80
2.40 - 2.80
2.80
2.82
2.58 - 2.91
2.87
2.90
2.92
2.94
2.85 - 2.95
2.90 - 2.99
2.95
2.96
2.96
2.99
2.90 - 3.04
3.00 - 3.07
2.90 - 3.10
3.00 - 3.12
3.03
3.12 - 3.18
3.02 - 3.26
3.09
3.10
3.10
3.16 - 3.20
3.16 - 3.20
3.18
3.18
3.21
3.25
3.25
3.27
3.28
3.28
3.28 - 3.35
3.29
3.30
3.32
3.34
3.34
3.35
3.38
3.40
3.45
3.26 - 3.41
3.45
3.45
3.48
3.52
3.53
3.53
3.56
3.98
3.60
3.60
3.60
3.61
3.64
3.65
3.67
3.68
3.70
3.70
3.71
3.70 - 3.73
3.75
3.77
3.80
3.80
3.82 - 3.85
3.88
3.97
3.97 - 4.00
3.99 - 4.00
3.97 - 4.08
4.03
4.09
4.16
3.15 - 4.20
4.20
4.50
4.97
4.27 - 4.35
4.35
4.50
4.69
5.10
5.05
5.13
5.57 - 5.64
5.60 - 5.90
5.66
5.90 - 6.10
6.00
6.13
5.85 - 6.15
6.45 - 6.57
6.70 - 7.00
6.90
5.18 - 8.20
 

Note: Values may be approximate.