About Tanzanite
History and Folklore
Discovered in 1967 in northern Tanzania, the stone was originally believed to be a new sapphire deposit. Legend says that after a massive fire across the plains of East Africa, Masai herdsmen returned to their charred fields to find blue stones littering the ground. In 1969, top gemologists started studying the new crystal. Tiffany and Co. started promoting the stone and gave it the name "tanzanite".
Facts and Information
Tanzanites possess a rare and unique quality known as pleochromislm, which is the ability to exhibit more than one color. When viewed from different angles, one can see varying i degrees of tones in purples and blues. After heating, this beautiful gemstone can range from a vibrant blue to a strong purple. The brownish zoisite is heated to approximately 600 -6so·c to make this blue color. Tanzanites can be used as an alternate December birthstone.
Major Sources
Identification and Characteristics
- R.I.: 1.691 - 1.700 (+.005, -.005)
- Hardness: 6 - 7
- S.G.: 3.35 (+.10, -.25)
- Species: Zoisite
Cleaning Methods
- Warm, soapy water is safe
- Never in steamer
- Never in ultrasonic
