Zoisite var: Tanzanite

Item Description

When it comes to gem crystals, Tanzanite is one of the most distinctive, well-known and highly sought after examples out there. These beautiful and remarkable crystals arguably may be the most popular non-pegmatite gem crystals from any locality. Tanzanite is a blue/purple variety of Zoisite which is typically green, but the added chromophores of vanadium creates a color that is only seen in Tanzanite. It's important to note that Zoisite crystals are fairly rare worldwide, especially in GEM material, and the dazzling Tanzanites are only found in one area in the world. The material is becoming increasingly difficult to find these days, as the supply seem to be dwindling, and the best transparent quality crystals are immediately destroyed as they are cut and polished into gemstones at the mine site. Zoisite is a pleochroic mineral meaning that is shows distinctly different colors when viewed along the “a”, “b”, and “c” axis, most often some shade of green or yellow. What makes Tanzanite so special is that the crystals will show an intense blue color along the “a” axis, and a strong purple color along the “b” axis, but the finest crystals exhibit the immensely eye-catching RED hue when view down the “c” axis. This crystal is a good example of this classic material showing a lively rich blue color on the front face, and a good saturated purple hue along the "b" axis, but there's a distinct thin GREEN zone along one side, which is not commonly seen in this material. The piece features sharp, lustrous, well-formed faces on the display side, but it's partially incomplete on the back where it was separated from the pocket wall. Overall it's an alluring specimen, and a good piece of this classic material. Specimen weight is 21.22 grams.