Fifteen Varieties of Precious Stones to Instill a Touch of Glitter in Your Existence
Exploring the World of Precious Gemstones: A Deep Dive into Tanzanite
Tanzanite, a rare and captivating gemstone, is renowned for its striking blue-violet to purple hues and exclusive origin near Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania[2][3][4].
Properties
The gemstone's allure lies in its trichroic nature, displaying three distinct colors—deep blue, violet, and burgundy or red—from various angles[2][3][4]. Tanzanite ranks 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, making it relatively softer than traditional gems like sapphires[1][4]. It boasts an orthorhombic crystal system and usually exhibits transparency with few inclusions[3]. Most tanzanite stones undergo heat treatment (around 600°C) to intensify their blue-violet colors[1][2].
Origins
Tanzanite was first discovered in 1967 in the Merelani Hills, a small mining area at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro, covering approximately 7 square kilometers[2][3][4]. This geographic restriction contributes to tanzanite's rarity, believed to be about a thousand times scarcer than diamonds[2]. The gemstone was named "tanzanite" after Tanzania, reflecting its unique natural source[2].
Unique Characteristics
Tanzanite's exclusivity, strong pleochroism, spiritual significance, and moderate hardness set it apart in the world of fine jewels and metaphysical traditions. Its exclusive geographic origin makes it extraordinarily rare and sought-after[2][4]. The gemstone exhibits strong pleochroism, showcasing different colors (blue, violet, and burgundy/red) from different angles[2][3][4].
Tanzanite is often associated with the Third Eye chakra, believed to offer spiritual protection, enhance intuition, and aid in transformation and manifestation[1]. It is commonly faceted in oval, cushion, emerald, pear, or trillion shapes to emphasize its color and pleochroic nature. Due to its hardness, it is best suited for jewelry styles where it is less likely to be scratched, such as earrings or pendants[3][4].
In summary, tanzanite's combination of its exquisite trichroic colors, exclusive geographic origin, moderate hardness, and spiritual significance make it a unique and prized gemstone in the world of fine jewels and metaphysical traditions.
Other precious gemstones include:
- Topaz, appearing in pale yellow, colorless, and pink shades.
- Amethyst, a violet variety of mineral quartz, once considered as valuable as ruby and emerald, and the birthstone of February, popular for its rich purple hue.
- Cat's Eye effect, most dramatically displayed in chrysoberyl.
- Emerald, a green variety of the mineral beryl, with traces of chromium and vanadium giving it its color, and a symbol of renewal, though it is slightly more brittle.
- Peridot, often found in volcanic regions.
- Ruby, a form of corundum known for its red color, which comes from chromium, and is commonly found in Myanmar, Mozambique, and Thailand.
- Blue sapphire, a variety of the mineral corundum, second only to diamond in hardness, and its vivid color makes it highly prized. Heat-treated stones enhance clarity and color.
- The gemstone diamond, a jewelry staple, forms from pure carbon under intense pressure and heat, and appears in many colors, with colorless diamonds being the most popular.
- Lapis Lazuli, a blue stone made of multiple minerals.
- Rose Quartz, a variety of quartz with a soft pink color.
- Imperial topaz, the most highly valued.
- Tanzanite, being extraordinarily rare due to its exclusive geographic origin near Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, shares a similar scarcity with other prized gemstones like diamonds.
- The world of fashion-and-beauty and home-and-garden also appreciate the exquisite trichroic colors of gemstones, with examples such as rose quartz adding a soft pink hue to lifestyle items.
- In the realm of science and technology, a deep understanding of a gemstone's properties, like tanzanite's trichroic nature and moderate hardness, is crucial for its optimization in various applications, including fashion and jewelry design.
