TANZANITE

Tanzanite is a rare, blue-violet variety of the mineral zoisite that's mined in Tanzania.It's known for its beauty and color, and is often used in jewelry.

Physical properties:

  • Tanzanite is a member of the epidote mineral group.
  • It has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. 
  • Tanzanite can display different colors when viewed from different angles. 
  • Most tanzanite on the market is heat treated to enhance its blue color and reduce brown tones. 

Discovery and origin:

  • Tanzanite was discovered in 1967 in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. 
  • It's only found in a small mining area in the Simanjiro District of Tanzania.
  • The extreme heat and pressure that created the Great Rift Valley and Mount Kilimanjaro also created tanzanite. 

Popularity and value:

  • Tanzanite is one of the rarest gemstones in the world. 
  • It's become popular and desirable since its discovery. 
  • Its price is affected by the availability of the stones and the demand for them.