Glittering Stones >> Semi
Precious Stones >> Tanzanite
Semi Precious Stone Tanzanite
The name tanzanite was a trade name coined by Tiffany
& Co. shortly after the gem's were discovered, an
obvious allusion to its country of origin. This was thought necessary
in order to make the stone remarkable to the public:
the name has since stuck as a varietals designation. Tanzanite's present-day
popularity as a gemstone is very largely thanks to Tiffany's
marketing campaigns. The mining of tanzanite nets the Tanzanian government
approximately USD $15 million annually, the finished gems later
being sold mostly on the US market for its sales totaling approximately
USD $400 million annually.
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Historical Facts of Tanzanite
| Refractive index |
1.69 - 1.70 |
| Chemical Composition |
Ca2(Al,OH)Al2(SIO4) |
| Mohs Scale Hardness |
6.5 |
| Crystal system |
Orthorhombic |
| Density |
3.10 - 3.38 |
| Color |
Purple - Blue |
| Ocurrence |
Tanzania |
| Luster |
Vitreous, pearly on cleavage surfaces |
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Gem Jewelry Tanzanite
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