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 their density 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 |
| 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 |
| Opal***** | 1.25-2.23 |
| 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.
***** Please note: the SG of highly porous gems like opals will increase during testing if they are left in water for too long, as they will absorb it. Measurements should be taken immediately.
International Gem Society
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