Tanzanite Specimens
Tanzanite is the blue and violet variety of the mineral zoisite.
The gem material was discovered by Manuel d'Souza in the Mirerani Hills of Manyara Region in Northern Tanzania in 1967, near the city of Arusha and Mount Kilimanjaro.
Tanzanite is only found in Tanzania, in a very small mining area near the Mirerani Hills.
Tanzanite is known for its remarkably strong trichroism, appearing alternately blue, violet and burgundy depending on crystal orientation.
Tanzanite can also appear differently when viewed under alternate lighting conditions.
The gemstone was given the name 'tanzanite' by Tiffany & Co. after Tanzania, the country in which it was discovered.
The scientific name of "blue-violet zoisite" was not thought to be consumer friendly enough by Tiffanys marketing department, who introduced it to the market in 1968.
In 2002, the American Gem Trade Association chose tanzanite as a December birthstone, the first change to their birthstone list since 1912.
