Tanzanite
From Antique Jewelry University
Tanzanite is a purplish blue variety of zoisite. Discovered in 1967 in Tanzania, it was introduced to the jewelry world in 1968 as Tanzanite by Tiffany & Co.
Gemological information
| Gemological Information for Tanzanite | |
|---|---|
| Color | Blue, Violet, Bluish-Purple |
| Crystal Structure | Orthorhombic |
| Refractive Index | 1.691 to 1.700 |
| Durability | Fair to Poor |
| Hardness | 6 to y |
| Similar Stones | Benitoite, Amethyst |
| Treatments | Heated to Produce Purplish-Blue from gray or brown |
| Country of Origin | Tanzania |
| Tanzanite Care | |
| Ultrasonic Cleaning | Unsafe |
| Steam Cleaning | Unsafe |
| Warm Soapy Water | Save |
| Chemical Attack | Attacket by Hydrofluoric and Hydrochloric Acids |
| Light Sensitivity | Stable |
| Heat Sensitivity | Fuses under a jeweler's torch |
Sources
Gem Reference Guide, Los Angeles: Gemological Institute of America, 1988. Pp. 262-264.
Newman, Harold. An Illustrated Dictionary of Jewelry, New York: Thames and Hudson, 1981. Pp. 300.
Schumann, Walter. Gemstones of the World, New York: Sterling Publishing, Co., 1977. Pp. 160.