Tanzanite is the gemstone of the purple/blue variety of the mineral zoisite. It is notable for its remarkable color, which can change from blue to purple to burgundy, depending on the light and the angle it is viewed at.

Due to its fascinating color (shown here) it has gained prominence in the jewelry trade in the relatively short time is has been discovered. New York jewelry company Tiffany’s has helped it become one of the most desirable gems in the world, by coining its name (rather than calling it ‘blue zoisite’) and presenting the gemstone to the public through an expansive advertising campaign.

Background and Types of Tanzanite

One of the rarest of all gems, Tanzanite was first discovered in Northern Tanzania in 1967, and has still only ever been found in a four square kilometer radius in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. Mining for Tanzanite is big business, netting the Tanzanian government around $20 million (US) every year, with the finished gems sold mainly on the US market for around $500 million every year. Many experts argue that the discovery of Tanzanite was the most important geological find of the 20^th Century.

The primary colors (hues) of Tanzanite are blue and purple, meaning the hue range of the gem is blue-purple to purple-blue. There is no universally accepted method for grading colored gemstones, but independent laboratories list ‘Intense Violetish Blue’ or ‘Triple A’ as the top grade.

Tanzanite is usually always heat treated to produce a range of hues. In its rough state Tanzanite is actually reddish-brown in color, and requires heating at 500C- 600C to bring out the violet color. Finished gems are assumed to be heat treated. It is possible for tanzanite to be found in other colors outside of this scale, with green regarded as the rarest, though technically classified as ‘green zoisite’ rather than tanzanite.

A gem is considered ‘flawless’ if no inclusions are visible to the naked eye. Tanzanite is classified as a Type 1 gemstone, meaning it usually is flawless. Gems with visible inclusions (i.e. flawed) are less desirable and traded at heavily reduced prices.

Tanzanite Meanings and Properties

As tanzanite is a relatively new gemstone, it does not have as many historic meanings and properties as other gems. It is though regarded as the gemstone that ‘brings visions’. It has an ability to connect with the spiritual world and bring knowledge to the wearer.

It can also bring peace to the owner and is beneficial to those who work long hours in demanding jobs. Reports also suggest that tanzanite has medical and medicinal uses, such as to help treat and heal skin disorders, re-align the spinal column and even awaken people from comas. It is believed that for maximal benefit people should wearer Tanzanite on the right-hand side of their body.

The gem has recently been adopted as an alternative birthstone for the month of December, and its quality, rarity and intense blue color makes it one of the most desirable gems around the world.

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