EnchantedLearning.com Rock and Mineral Dictionary

The specific gravity (abbreviated s.g.) of a material is a comparison of its weight with the weight of an equal volume of water. Specific gravity measures the density of a material.

Substances with a low specific gravity (like cork, which has a s.g. of 0.24) are not very dense; substances with a high specific gravity (like Gold, with a s.g. of 19.3) are very dense.

Substance	SPECIFIC GRAVITY
Amber	1.05-1.30
Lucite	1.19
Jet	1.30-1.35
Quartz	1.544-1.533
Topaz	1.62-1.64
Ivory	1.7-2.0
Opal	2.1
Obsidian	2.3-2.6
Lapis lazuli	2.4-2.9
Moonstone	2.56-2.62
Aquamarine	2.67-2.71
Emerald	2.67-2.78
Coral	2.68
Turquoise	2.6-2.8
Amethyst	2.63-2.65
Pearl	2.60-2.78
Nephrite	2.90-3.02
Glass	3.15-4.20
Peridot	3.27-3.36
Jadeite	3.35
Azurite	3.7-3.9
Diamond	3.52
Chrysoberyl	3.70-3.72
Malachite	3.75-3.95
Sapphire	3.99-4.00
Ruby	3.97-4.08
Zircon	3.90-4.71
Hematite	4.95-5.16
Pyrite	5.0-5.2
Tantalite	5.18-8.20
Gold	19.3

EnchantedLearning.com Rock and Mineral Dictionary

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