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 |
| 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
Related Articles
Birthstone Chart
Our birthstone chart features both modern and traditional options. See galleries of birthstone jewelry by month and learn more about...
Read More
Table of Refractive Indices and Double Refraction of Selected Gems
Refractive indices and double refraction (birefringence) help gemologists identify gems. The following table lists these values for selected gemstones.
Read More
Gemstone Toxicity Table
Gem faceters and jewelry enthusiasts alike should learn about gemstone toxicity. This table has toxicity ratings for 280+ gems, based...
Read More
Emerald Origins: History and Identification
Emeralds from different sources can vary in quality. Learn how to identify emerald origins by analyzing the optical and physical...
Read More
Never Stop Learning
When you join the IGS community, you get trusted diamond & gemstone information when you need it.
Get Gemology Insights
Get started with the International Gem Society’s free guide to gemstone identification. Join our weekly newsletter & get a free copy of the Gem ID Checklist!