How and where is Tanzanite found and formed?

Tanzanite is an ultra beautiful gemstone that is very rare and full of attractive attributes.  This gemstone was found in Tanzania in 1967 and has become extremely popular around the world because of its wonderful hues, most notably blue encircled by a hint of purple.

Tanzanite comes from the mineral Zoisite.  It is made from calcium, aluminum and silica.  Tanzanite is only available in one distinct location, while it is known that specific trace minerals have caused the wonderful color of Tanzanite, it is not copied naturally in any other location throughout the world.  Zoisite can come in many colors; however Tanzanite is usually sold when it is either blue, bluish violet or blue with a hint of purple surrounding it.

Besides forming naturally, Tanzanite can be synthetically created.  It is interesting to note that when Tanzanite is created synthetically it is no longer has the mineral properties of Zoisite; it has different mineral properties called Fosterite.  Practically all Tanzanite is treated whether synthetically or natural.  It is usually heated with temperatures over 500 degrees Celsius.  This treatment process enhances the color of the stone and makes it perfect for any fine jewelry setting.

Today, Tanzanite is one of the more popular and valuable gemstones available.  It is said to sometimes command prices that diamonds do.  However it does have a few shortcomings including the fact that it is not that hard, with only a score of 6.5 to 7 on Moh’s hardness scale.  It can also lose its color to extreme heat. While normal wear and tear shouldn’t affect the color of the stone, it has been known to change slightly.

The colors, shapes and sizes that Tanzanite comes in

Tanzanite is one of the more popular gemstones around.  While it has only been discovered in 1967, it has been marketed heavily and well received by gemstone buyers around the world.  The reason for its demand is usually its undeniably attractive hue.  While Tanzanite does come in several colors, it is most famous for the hue of blue with a hint of purple that surrounds it.  A perfect natural stone, with this beautiful color can command extremely high prices, sometimes approaching that of diamonds.

Tanzanite comes in several colors including blue, violet, green and purple.  It should be noted that Tanzanite also exhibits the effect of trichroism, this means that sometimes three colors are present in the Tanzanite stone.  For instance, sapphire blue, violet and sage green can all be present depending on how you view and position the stone.

While Tanzanite can be difficult to cut due to the one way cleavage, it can be cut and shaped into endless shapes and sizes.  However, most consumers generally purchase the stones below 3 carats and in cuts that go well with rings.  Other favorite jewelry pieces for Tanzanite include earrings, charms, and bracelets. While great for everyday use, when wearing Tanzanite be careful of direct impact and extreme heats.  This can harm the stone.  It should also be noted that the vast majority of Tanzanite on the market has been treated, usually with heat to enhance the color of the gemstone.  This is normal and usually does not affect the price.