Description
Tanzanite, Natural, Faceted Coin, 4mm
This price is for one strand 15 to 16 inches long
4mm faceted coin strands have 101 to 106 pieces
Tanzanite is the blue and violet variety of the mineral zoisite. The mineral zoisite naturally occurs in a wide range of colors that include colorless, gray, yellow, pink, brown, green, blue, and violet. The name "tanzanite" is used for a color variety of zoisite that ranges from blue to bluish purple to bluish violet. This trade name was first used by Tiffany and Company for gem-quality specimens of this mineral zoisite. They could have sold the material under the mineralogical name of "blue zoisite," but they thought the name "tanzanite" would peak customer’s interest and would make it easier to sell.
Tanzanite was given its name because the world's only known tanzanite deposit of commercial importance is in northern Tanzania. Tanzanite was not discovered in commercial quantities until the 1960s. It has become the second most popular blue gem after sapphire. It is common for tanzanite to be heated.
Hardness 6.5-7
This is a natural stone that has had no treatment other than cutting, drilling, and polishing.
The source of these beads is South Africa and they are cut, drilled and polished in China.
