Hardness: 6.50
Refractive Index: 1.69-1.70
Specific Gravity: 3.35
Birthstone:
Astral Stone:
Anniversary Stone: 24th
Origination: Tanzania
Care & Cleaning: Clean with a mild solution of warm soapy water and a gentle warm water rinse. Do not use ultrasonic cleaners or steam to clean a tanzanite. Do not soak.
Fiction, Facts & Folklore:
Tanzanite is the blue to blue violet variety of the zoisite mineral group.
Its� principle coloring agent is vanadium.
Tanzanite is pleochroic, showing colors of blue, gray & purple.
The first tanzanites were found in the Usumburu Mountains near the base of Mount Kilimanjaro in 1967. Arusha was the first populated site to lay claim to this area.
Shortly after their discovery, the tanzanites were shown to Harry Platt, chairman of Tiffany & Co, who first introduced the stone to the world at his newly-opened store in San Francisco, California in 1969. It was Mr. Platt who named the stone after its country of origin.
Arusha prospered from the tanzanite finds, and new digs in places like Merlanie and Tunduru also came up with lots of tanzanite rough in the beginning. Merlanie became the focal point of all mining.
In 1996, a heavily-included 255 carat tanzanite crystal was discovered near Arusha. Because of its inclusions, it proved to be of little market value.
In 1998, a weather phenomenon known as "El Nino" soaked Tanzania with heavy rains during what should have been their drought period. When the monsoons hit, the groundwater swells were high, causing devastating floods and loss of lives. Mines caved in and poorly constructed shelters where the miners lived fell apart. Roads were washed out, and all hopes of finding additional tanzanite rough were dashed.
As a result, shortages have resulted in price hikes at retail throughout the USA (and for that matter the world). Some reports quote markups as high as 200% and more.
A new variety of simulated tanzanite known as "Forsterite" has recently begun to make headway in the retail market. Essentially, this product is synthetic olivine, the mineral group that contributes peridot to the gem world. In order to turn the Forsterite from green (like the peridot) to blue (like the tanzanite) cobalt is introduced during the manufacturing process. This material actually first surfaced in 1994, but since tanzanite was readily available at that time, there was little demand for the product. Today, things are quite different. Synthetic Forsterite has a hardness of 6.5-7.0, a specific gravity of 3.2 and a refractive index of 1.63-1.67. This product is marketed by Morion Co., Brighton, Massachusetts. Forsterite is grown in Russia.
A member of the olivine mineral group, natural forsterite also exists, and can be found primarily in Sri Lanka. This mineral is lightly regarded and generally not considered to be of germ quality. Most often it is near colorless to pale green or yellow. Natural forsterite cannot be heated to turn "tanzanite blue." This is why the synthetic material was developed.
Besides Forsterite, there are two other tanzanite simulants on the market today, both offered by the Lannyte Co., Houston, Texas. "Coranite," a lab-grown corundum with a hardness of 9.0, and "Tanavyte," a lab grown-garnet based product, with a hardness of 8.5. The difference between these two products besides the chemical composition is the look. Coranite is strictly blue, while Tanavyte does have some purple undertones clearly visible to the naked eye. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, after all.
Another variety of simulated tanzanite composed of yttrium and aluminum has recently been seen at retail. This material is said to be similar in structure to yttrium aluminum garnet, or "YAG." Synthetic soude spinel and other simulants made from plastic to glass can also be found.
A green to yellow zoisite that sometimes contains ruby rough, can be found in Tanzania & Kenya. This material is known simply as green zoisite.
A pink variety known as Thulite is sometimes found in North Carolina, Australia and several European nations as well. Thulite resembles, and is often confused with rhodonite.
Both may be seen either fashioned into artifacts or polished into round beads.
Tanzanite rough is mostly an unattractive shade of brown to included purple crystal, which is brought to blue through heat process that requires a temperature of 600-650*C. The first proof of this went according to Tanzanian legend. Masai cattle herders first noticed these sparkling gems that had been caught in a brush fire and transformed by the heat from the murky brown rocks that they had probably passed by so many times before, to the beautiful blue crystals we all have come to know and love today. Could these cattle herders have been the first tanzanite collectors on earth?
The National Museum of History in Washington, D.C. is home to a 122.7 carat tanzanite dubbed the "midnight blue."
Published reports in the 1990's told of a land owner who became so wealthy from his tanzanite holdings that he went to the very top of a tall building in Arusha and threw thousands upon thousands of dollars in the air to the miners that had worked his land, waiting down below for the shower of money!
In 1999 tanzanite replaced the emerald as the number three top selling colored gem in the world. This was the first time since records had been recorded that the top three gems were anything other than emerald, ruby and sapphire.
Astrologers often associate tanzanite with the planet Saturn.
Folklore tells us that tanzanite helps us to be more practical and realistic
Certain cultures hold true that the tanzanite will help anyone who wears it to be more honest and open both with themselves and with others.
Additionally, it will help one be less evasive when being asked for important information.
It is said that tanzanite helps one cope with change
Medically speaking, some believe that tanzanite increases fertility and supports the nervous system
Tanzanite has been thought by some to uplift and open the heart.
Some believe that zoisite increases fertility and supports the entire nervous system.