Tanzanite was originally discovered in Tanzania, Africa in 1967 near the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. Originally named and marketed by Tiffany & Co., in the late 1960's through the 1970's, Tanzanite became extremely popular to jewelry lovers everywhere in the late 1990's. Part of the zoisite family of gems, untreated Tanzanite is found in shades of reddish-brown, but also yellow, green, and blue.
The distinctive violet-blue, blue-violet, and amethyst colors are produced by means of heat treatment. Tanzanite rates a 6.5-7 on the Moh's Scale, and is best set in pendants and earrings where the gem is better protected from knocks and bumps. Tanzanite was officially adopted as December's alternate birthstone. The most famous Tanzanite is known as the Queen of Kilimanjaro, which weighs 242 carats and is a squarish cushion cut shape mounted with tsavorite and diamond accents.
See Also: Zoisite, Moh's Scale of Hardness, Birthstones