Tanzanite was first discovered in 1967 in Tanzania, East
Africa. As one of the newest and most exotically colored gemstones, Tanzanite
is part of the Zoisite mineral species and is only found in East Africa.
Tanzanite is very rarely a pure blue and usually exhibits rich purple
overtones.
While Tanzanite is often a blue color when first mined, it
can also be brown and is routinely heat treated to permanently draw out its exotic
bluish-purple color.
Tanzanite is a brittle stone and although it can be worn
daily, care should be taken to protect it from knocks, pressure and extreme
temperature changes. Do not use a home ultrasonic to clean jewelry with
tanzanite.
Legend says that it was Masai cattle herders that first
noticed this stone some 30 years ago after a fire caused by lightening burned
areas in Tanzania. The herders noticed that brown zoiscite crystals had turned
a deep blue-purple due to the heat from the fire.
Because this is such a new gemstone, there is little
folklore or healing properties surrounding this stone.