Demantoid

Demantoid is the variety of the mineral andradite; it's a brilliant green gemstone that belongs to   the garnet group of minerals. Andradite is a garnet rich of calcium and iron. Demantoid is the most valuable of garnet gemstones as it's a rare one.

The chromium substitution gives the Demantoid its green color and the Ferric iron gives the yellow color on the gemstone.

Demantoid has been discovered in 1853 but garnets have been known since ancient times. It has been discovered   in Russia's western central Ural Mountains, northwest of Ekaterinburg near the village of Elizavetinskoye. Because of its special characteristics it quickly became a treasured and expensive gemstone.

Demantoids were very popular and famous in Russia as they were using them to make jewelry.

Demantoids are found in Russia and Namibia as they can also be found in Italy, Iran and Afghanistan.

Demantoids are famous with the green color, but the exact shade ranges from a very strong yellowish green to nearly the color of a fine emerald.

The hardness of the Demantoid gemstone according to the Mohs scale is: 6.5.