Tanzanite is a rare gemstone and found only in Tanzania and mined at one location of Mererani in Manyara region.
Tanzanite is the important gem variety of zoisite (zoisite is also referred to as epidote). Color is variable. Gem varieties are often sapphire blue or violet-blue. However, other colors occur, like the red variety (thulite), and a green Varieties of Tanzania are based on Hardness: 6.5-7 (note this hardness is less than normally desirable for a gem used in jewelry subject to abrasion by dirt and dust).
Crystal system: orthorhombic Composition: Ca-Al-silicate (tanzanite color is attributed to a Vanadium (V) as an impurity strongly pleochroicView an uncut crystal.
Where is it found?
The variety of zoisite known as tanzanite was discovered in Tanzania in 1967. Many local people and foreigners have made joint venture Tanzanite trade business.
Colour is the most important of the 4 C’s when considering Tanzanite
quality. It can also be one of the most confusing aspects as you surf the
web as so many different sites use different terms/grading systems and it is difficult to effectively compare one with another.
Color GRADING SYSTEM.
There is only one universally accepted official grading system for colored gems and that is the GIA system (Gemological Institute of America). However, there are numerous trade based systems as you will see when surfing the web.
The majority of these are very subjective and vary widely. One of the terms commonly used (and misused) in the trade is AAA Tanzanite. This is a term used by the miners to denote the very top grade of Tanzanite – the very deeply saturated exceptional stones.
Below is a suite of Tanzanite loosely representing the colour grades as they descend. We have used the GIA system but included some of the other trade grades often used to help with comparison purposes. Of course, there are many other colours which fit in between these but it serves as a good basic guide to colour.
Tanzania Government decided to open an official Tanzanite auction market and it is one center Tanzanite gem shopping area to buy genuine tanzanite and ship to your home country. Furthermore, there are other official registered jewelry shops that sell cut Tanzanite, Tanzanite stone, rough stone zoisite, necklaces, ring, chain, etc.
When you book your Kilimanjaro climbing trip, there are genuine Tanzanite shops in Moshi and Mweka gate to buy Tanzanite stone of Tanzanite jewelry. For those safari-goers, wildlife safari trips also begin from Arusha. The Tanzanite auction Market in Arusha is run by Government and there are online financial institutions like NMB Bank and CRDB bank with ATMs. Furthermore, you can get cheap Tanzanite deals at private-owned Tanzanite shops and Tanzanite bazaar.
CONSUMER PROTECTIVE NOTE;
Whilst many sites proclaim to be selling AAA stones from Block D, the most areas actually dealing in the A range. Prices are considerably lower for this material and it has become a marketing ploy to represent lower-cost material as AAA (bV 6/5 vB 6/5) at low prices. True block D AAA material is very rare and difficult to get. Less than 1% of all Tanzanite production is true AAA and it is considered exceptional. It is thus at a premium price right from the mouth of the mine to the very few highly selective and high-end jewelers
who have access to it. Beware of sites offering this exceptional material at prices too good to be true. Chances are you will be buying a grade to several grades lower. This is fine as even lower grade Tanzanite is very beautiful, but it shouldn’t be misrepresented as AAA.
CARAT WEIGHT.
Tanzanites exist even in the 100+ carat range but these are rare. Generally, stones are in the below 1 – 10-carat range. Carat weight affects the price generally as weight increases stones in the same quality bracket will cost more per carat.
CUT.
Although it has the least impact on the value of the 4 C’s cut is still
important. In the market, tanzanites are found in a variety of shapes and cutting styles. Ovals and cushions are the most common, but rounds are also seen, as are other shapes, including emerald cuts, trillions, etc. Cabochon-cut tanzanites are not often seen. Cuts should be proportional – you don’t want to pay for a stone with alot of weight in the pavilion for example when this weight will be invisible in a setting.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS.
FAKES / SYNTHETICS / IMITATIONS: Tanzanite has never been synthesized, but a number of imitations exist. The most common is blue-violet glass. Synthetic forsterite has also been used as an imitation and is known as Tanzanique in the trade. It has a lower RI than Tanzanite and does not have the same pleochroism so it is easily distinguished from the real thing. However, laymen can easily be fooled so always buy from a reputable dealer,
preferably a member of the ICA (International Colored Gemstone Association)which has a strict code of ethics.
Tanzanite mining investment. There is a great potential to get Tanzanite mine stone in a short time if you seriously invest in mining. The New government policy needs foreigners to engage in a joint venture on Tanzanite mining. There are several local people who own tanzanite blocks and are willing to invite a joint venture to extract Tanzanite from the earth. There is a big promise to rip huge profits in addition to return your cap africa-53148612″>This is the latest Tanzanite news in 2020, whereby small miners got the world’s largest gemstones worth 3.3 m US $. Now contact Kilimanjaro Tanzanite Safaris DCM director if you are willing to invest in Tanzania on Tanzanite mining, Safari Lodge construction, campsite construction and also Tanzanite gem jewelry export trade.