Zoisite var. Tanzanite

Item Description

Tanzanite is a generational stone, in that we think the mines will not last much past our current generation; and it comes only from one place on Earth that is getting harder and harder to delve into. Already, specimen production is diminished compared to past years, as the market for gems and cut stones is so much easier for the government-affiliated mining company to sell into. Why save the crystals for slow, indecisive persnickety mineral collectors when you can cut them? And indeed, this is a cutter, 44 carats of nearly clean, transparent, gemmy tanzanite rough that also happens to be an incredible gem thumbnail specimen. The quality is superb, sharpness and luster as well as size and balance for a thumbnail single crystal specimen. It is a natural color, which shows the blue and purple tones very easily, with minimal backlighting. From the style, the color, and the sharp termination combined with great luster, we can assume this is from the famous production at D Block, which produced most of the truly best clean specimen quality crystals of this particular style and aspect, between 10-15 years ago; and this is also in line with the timing it was acquired for the single crystals suite of the Meieran collection. According to Wikipedia: The only tanzanite deposit on our planet barely covers eight square miles, and “D Block” refers to one of the four blocks into which it was divided by the Tanzanian government. Legend has it that D Block is responsible for producing the finest tanzanite. We cannot prove it, and it really doesn't matter if we do - the quality is there and speaks for itself, and it is certainly comparable to famous published specimens from this section of the mine in any case. It is one of the better thumbnail examples we have seen by matters of degrees but across several different facets of quality, which together make it special and a higher level than most similarly sized crystals. The color is natural - with subtle patterns and a red tone on the vertical proving it is not heated.  Gene purchased major crystals as they were coming out from some of the leading contemporary sources. And yet he still had the chance and took the opportunity to buy this exquisite thumbnail.