Zoisite var. Tanzanite. Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania. 5.9 x 1.8 x 1.4 cm...

Description

Zoisite var. Tanzanite
Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
5.9 x 1.8 x 1.4 cm (2.31 x 0.71 x 0.53 in)
33 grams

The termination of this single, elongated crystal of blue Tanzanite is the star of the show: with the exception of a tiny flea-bite, the edges of the crystal are perfect, and the faces are highly modified and complex, even featuring a few striations here and there. With the exception of a few internal fractures, the termination is remarkably "gemmy" and free of inclusions; it's a minor miracle that this Tanzanite crystal was not processed as cutting rough for gemstones! The color is an intense indigo blue, with bright violet down the B axis, or the sides of the prism. This dichroism is almost magical in nature, with how dramatically the hue changes when rotated before a polarized light (such as your computer screen). Accenting the specimen is a rounded sidecar of associated Graphite, with a strong metallic luster and dark color. The clarity, luster, and color really shine through in the overall presence of the specimen: it is a remarkable example of increasingly popular material.

From The Edgehill Collection.

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