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Tanzanite

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description Tanzanite Overview

Tanzanite is the blue-to-violet gem variety of zoisite, a calcium aluminium silicate mineral. It was identified as a commercial gemstone in 1967 and is mined in a restricted area of northern Tanzania near Mount Kilimanjaro, giving the material its name and limited geographic source. Tanzanite is strongly pleochroic, displaying different colors from different crystal directions, and much commercial material is heat-treated to emphasize blue and violet tones.

help Tanzanite FAQ

Where is tanzanite mined?

Tanzanite is mined only in a small area of northern Tanzania, near Mount Kilimanjaro in the Merelani Hills. This is the only known commercial source of the gem, which is the blue-to-violet variety of the mineral zoisite.

When was tanzanite discovered?

Tanzanite was identified as a commercial gemstone in 1967. It was later named by Tiffany & Co., which promoted the stone heavily in the late 1960s and 1970s.

Is tanzanite heated or treated?

Most tanzanite on the market has been heat-treated to remove brownish tones and enhance the blue-to-violet color. The treatment is stable and widely accepted in the trade, with the blue-violet hue considered the stone's most desirable color.

Why is tanzanite so expensive?

Tanzanite commands premium prices largely because of its single-source supply in Tanzania and the limited remaining deposits, which are projected to deplete within decades. The deep blue-violet stones, particularly in larger sizes, are the rarest and most valuable.

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