Tanzanite
A variety of Zoisite
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About Tanzanite
A variety of Zoisite
A gem variety of zoisite with a blue to blue-violet colour. The colour is due to the incorporation of trace amounts of vanadium cations (V4+ absorption band increased at 380 nm, V3+ absorption band at 350 nm decreased with heating).
Note that a significant percentage of tanzanite crystals on the market have been heat-treated (400-500°C) to produce or enhance this colour, many are originally brown or pale grey (Hurlbut 1969; see photo to the right). A red tint seen looking down the c-axis is a good indication that the crystal colouration is natural. Note also that tanzanion is used as a synthetic simulant for tanzanite.
Natural and heat-treated tanzanite is strongly pleochroic (Hurlbut 1969). The photo to the right shows a single crystal viewed from different directions.
First reported from the Merelani Hills (Mererani), Tanzania.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Tanzanite.
A gem variety of zoisite with a blue to blue-violet colour. The colour is due to the incorporation of trace amounts of vanadium cations (V4+ absorption band increased at 380 nm, V3+ absorption band at 350 nm decreased with heating).
First reported from the Merelani Hills (Mererani), Tanzania.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Tanzanite.Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3885 (as Tanzanite)
4430 (as Zoisite)
4430 (as Zoisite)
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3885:6 (as Tanzanite)
mindat:1:1:4430:7 (as Zoisite)
mindat:1:1:4430:7 (as Zoisite)
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
312fc5d9-cf2e-44b7-a03b-763089a63b47 (as Tanzanite)
bd105552-3fbc-48ef-9583-56d3ecdd9905 (as Zoisite)
bd105552-3fbc-48ef-9583-56d3ecdd9905 (as Zoisite)
Pronunciation of Tanzanite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Synonyms of Tanzanite
Other Language Names for Tanzanite
Dutch:Tanzaniet
Finnish:Tansaniitti
French:Tanzanite
Hebrew:טנזניט
Japanese:タンザナイト
Lithuanian:Tanzanitas
Norwegian:Tanzanitt
Polish:Tanzanit
Portuguese:Tanzanite
Spanish:Tanzanita
Tanjeloffita
Tanjeloffita
Swahili:Tanzanaiti
Swedish:Tanzanit
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 76 photos of Tanzanite associated with Graphite | C |
| 74 photos of Tanzanite associated with Prehnite | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
| 40 photos of Tanzanite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 27 photos of Tanzanite associated with Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
| 19 photos of Tanzanite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 16 photos of Tanzanite associated with Chabazite | |
| 13 photos of Tanzanite associated with Alabandite | MnS |
| 12 photos of Tanzanite associated with Fluorite | CaF2 |
| 11 photos of Tanzanite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 10 photos of Tanzanite associated with Apophyllite Group | AB4[Si8O22]X · 8H2O |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Tanzanite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3885.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Tanzanite
Reference List:
forum.amiminerals.it (n.d.) http://forum.amiminerals.it/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=18736&sid=a3e70f9657c5949479d59e123e0d1bdb
Bačík, Peter, Wildner, Manfred, Cempírek, Jan, Škoda, Radek, Cibula, Peter, Vaculovič, Tomáš (2023) The position of vanadium in the crystal structure of zoisite, variety tanzanite: Structural refinement, optical absorption spectroscopy and bond-valence calculations. Mineralogical Magazine, 87 (4) 599-610 doi:10.1180/mgm.2023.48
Localities for Tanzanite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
China | |
| Yang et al. (2023) |
Tanzania | |
| Bindi +1 other reference |
| Wilson et al. (2009) | |
| Wilson et al. (2009) | |
| Min Rec (2009) | |
| Olivier (2008) +1 other reference | |
| Andy Seibel | |
| Natural HistoryMuseum of Los Angeles ... | |
| Mason (1976) |
Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania