Tanzanite :: Gemstones
Tanzanite
Information
Tanzanite is
a magnificent and extraordinary gemstone. Tanzanite occurs in only one
location in the world, namely in the Merelani Hills at the foot
hills of Mt Kilimanjaro in the north of Tanzania. Discovered
only in 1967 it has already been lauded that there is only a decade
of supply left.
Tanzanite is
a blue variety of the gemstone zoisite. It's correct name 'blue
zoisite' was felt to be too close to the English word 'suicide' so
Tiffany's proposed the name 'tanzanite'.
The most desired
colour of tanzanite is a blue surrounded by a delicate hint of purple, which has
a particularly wonderful effect in sizes of over 10 carats.
Having said that, most raw crystals are somewhat spoiled by a
brownish-yellow component, though it can be made to disappear by the
cutter if he heats the stone carefully in an oven to approximately
500°. During the procedure he must pay careful attention to the
moment at which the colour turns to blue. This burning is a method
of treatment which is regarded as customary in the trade, but the
raw stones must be as free of inclusions as possible, since
otherwise fissures may occur.
The tanzanite stone is particularly highly prized because it is found in only
one place in the whole world. The idea of possessing something that
not everyone has always been one of the main criteria in the way
we esteem special gems.
| RI: 1.69-1.70 |
SG:
3.20-3.40 |
Hardness:
6-7 |
Toughness: Fair
to Poor |
| Treatments:
Almost all tanzanite is heated |
| Care Tips:
Avoid ultrasonic cleaners, steamers, abrupt temperature
changes and rough handling |
| Value: In
2003 (Newman) reported fine coloured tanzanite was available
for less than $1200 USD retail. However, since that
time depleting mine stocks and legislation introduction in
Tanzania has seen the price rise markedly. |
Tanzanites can be securely purchased on this
web site at bargain prices ... see
here
|
