Tanzanite is known as gem Zoisite or blue/purple Zoisite.

Origin-: Discovered in 1967 when Tiffany Jewelers introduced it to the market in the Mererani Hills of Northern Tanzania near the city of Arusha and Mount Kilimanjaro.

Color-: Purple to blue, Bronze.

Hardness-: 6.5 on the Mohs scale with an orthorhombic crystal structure.

Birthstone-: December.

Zodiac sign-: Virgo and Sagittarius.

Luster-: Vitreous, pearly on cleavage surfaces.

Streak-: White or colorless.

Occurrence-: East African state of Tanzania in a volcanic basin called Merlani.

Metaphysical Properties-:

• “Stone of magic” that helps with spiritual awareness and psychic insight.
• “Workaholic’s stone” because it helps you slow down and take it easy, brings success in more areas of life.
• It relieves stress, depression and enhances composure, poise and harmony.
• To transmute negativity.
• Physically it is said in healing folklore and crystal healing to be beneficial for stress related illnesses and high blood pressure in particular.
• Tanzanite is related primarily to the throat and third eye chakras.

Handling-:

• Ultrasonic: Unsafe; never clean tanzanite with ultrasonic cleaners.
• Steamer: Not safe.
• The best way to care for tanzanite is to clean it with warm, soapy water.
• Acids: Attacked by hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids.
• Heat: Fuses under jeweler’s torch; sudden temperature changes may cause cracking.

Enhancements-: Virtually all tanzanite is heat treated (approx. 500°C), which converts the brown pleochroic color blue.