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Tanzanite is the best known violet purple stone recently associated with Osama Bin Laden. Now cleared of its link and free of any reference to funding from Osama Bin Laden, the gem's popularity and sales have returned to normal. Tanzanite was originally introduced to consumers through Tiffany and Co.,
The gem comes from Tanzania and is a favorite blue violet gemstone with no peer. Tanzanites are normally heated treated to 700 degrees centigrade tranforming its dull gray green hues to a beautiful blue violet shade. The chemical formula is: Ca2Al3Si3O12(OH) Hardness is 6-7. Cleavage: one direction, fracture is conchoidal to uneven, brittle. Tanzanite has a broad spectrum at 5950 and faint bands at 5280 and 4550 and a few weak lines in the red zone. Tanzanite is in the Zoisite species of the epidote mineral group. Tanzanite is a highly popular gemstone avaiable in lighter shades and smaller sizes. Large clean and deep medium hues with pure bluish violet colors are rare. |
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