All about tanzanite

It is impossible to remain indifferent, looking at the sparkling all shades of blue and violet tanzanite. This crystal fascinates, bewitches and how the ocean lures into the abyss of its charm. Although the stone is not precious, but only semi-precious, it is in great demand in the jewelry market. Even the cinema could not resist his charms. But first things first. First, we will tell you when and where this mineral was discovered, what types of tanzanite are. You will learn about its useful properties and how to distinguish the original from the fake.

Tanzanite was discovered relatively recently - in 1967. Prior to this, only representatives of the Masai tribe, the indigenous inhabitants of the East African state of Tanzania, in whose territory it was found, knew about the stone. It was the Masai who showed this marvelous mineral to the Portuguese explorer Manuel de Souza. He went on an expedition around Tanzania to look for rubies, and eventually found a completely new stone. Although I did not immediately understand this.

At first they thought it was an ordinary glass. Then there was an assumption that the stone is one of the rare species of sapphire, to which it is very similar in appearance.

At first, this find did not attach much importance. About tanzanite actively started talking only a year later. This happened after the stone was seen by the vice-president of the famous Tiffany jewelry house, Henry Platt. The beauty of the amazing gem inspired him to create a special collection dedicated to the newly discovered crystal. And it was Platt who gave him the name - tanzanite, consonant with the name of the birthplace of the blue mineral Tanzania.

Officially, in scientific circles, tanzanite is called blue zoisite. As scientists have found, this mineral is more than 500 million years old. It arose as a result of the tectonic collision of two ancient continents.

However, for a long time no one knew about him, since tanzanite of a bright blue hue is very rare in nature. Most often they find brownish-yellow specimens, which, due to their color, merge with the scorched heat of the scorching heat of the grass, so they have been imperceptible for a long time.

Blue stones become as a result of heating, when the mineral is exposed to temperatures in excess of 500 ° C. But even after the crystal cools, it does not lose its deep marine color. Natural tanzanite of such color is a consequence of the centuries-old exposure to the sun, lightning, fires and volcanic processes. It is valued much higher than the samples obtained by heat treatment, and is, accordingly, more expensive.

There are also tanzanites of lilac and dark red shades - also rare minerals, but they do not use high consumer demand.And also there are greenish and even pink varieties, and sometimes almost transparent crystals. But still, in the jewelry world, the color of the sea depth is more appreciated.

Tanzanite has the so-called alexandrite effect, i.e the stone changes its color tone depending on the lighting (in daytime sunlight it is predominantly blue, and under lamps and spotlights it becomes red-violet). And pleochroism is also peculiar to him - the crystal is poured with various shades and edges depending on the position in space and the angle of view.

Tanzanite, in contrast to diamond, is very soft and fragile, like glass. The hardness of the blue mineral on a 10-point Mohs scale is only 6.5 -7. Therefore, not all diamond cutters are decided to work with him - the slightest careless movement can lead to the fact that the stone will split into small pieces. But those who undertake the processing of rare minerals create real masterpieces of jewelry art.

In the world there is only one place where blue zoisite is mined - Merelani Plateau, which is located at the slope of Kilimanjaro Volcano in Tanzania. The total area of ​​the deposit is only 5 km. It is divided into 4 zones: A, B, C and D. Companies from England, South Africa and Tanzania are engaged in the extraction of tanzanite, and the latter owns more than 60% of all the mined minerals.

Other deposits of this rare stone have not yet been discovered, it is possible that there are no more anywhere on the planet. Therefore, the cost of tanzanite is very high. And taking into account the fact that in 15 years the only deposit to date will be exhausted, the price and value of the exotic mineral will increase with time.

Tanzanite is not only divinely beautiful, but also useful - it helps in solving life's difficulties and health problems.

Valuable magical properties are attributed to this unusual stone.

• It preserves harmony and understanding in family relationships., helps to resolve conflicts between spouses. However, the stone also "punishes" the traitor. In the case of the betrayal of one of the spouses, his troubles will be persecuted as punishment for insincerity and meanness. But if everything is good in marriage, then tanzanite will, on the contrary, protect and strengthen the family union.

• Lonely girls who dream to meet their "prince"It helps to fulfill this desire. Attention from the opposite sex to the bearer of the blue stone becomes greater, which means that the chances of finding a soul mate increase significantly.

• If you have financial problems in your life, then tanzanite will help solve them. This stone attracts prosperity and prosperity. He also favors those who seek to reach new career heights. Just do not just sit and enjoy all day at the stone, hoping that everything will turn out by itself. Tanzanite loves active, determined and motivated people. And that is how he sends luck, favorable circumstances and well-deserved success.

• If you can’t find your purpose in life, you don’t know what kind of activity to choose, then tanzanite will help you to decide for yourself and find application for your talents. If you have already decided what you want to do, then the stone will attract opportunities, necessary circumstances and people to your life, and help you realize your desires. Tanzanite especially favors creative personalities, giving inspiration, developing imagination and ability.

• Tanzanite is considered a mystical stone, therefore, psychics often carry it as an amulet. It helps to better develop the supernatural magical abilities of those who actually possess them. But also to people far from extrasensory perception, it will be useful, since it contributes to the development of intuition. And this feeling is sometimes worth listening to even more than the voice of reason.

Tanzanite is able to alleviate the physical condition in certain diseases and even cure them.

1. An African crystal may well replace a headache pill or enhance its effect. An iridescent blue-violet stone removes excessive tension, eases a migraine attack and prevents the appearance of a new one.
2. Contemplation of tanzanite has a beneficial effect on vision. Admire the blue mineral is useful for those who work at the computer for a long time - this is a wonderful rest for the eyes in every sense. But tanzanite is also able to improve visual acuity: a person who sees a blue crystal every day begins to see better.
3. Tanzanite bracelet reduces back and joint pain. Only need to wear it constantly.
4. Tanzanite strengthens the body's defenses, helping it fight against various colds and viral diseases. It reduces the symptoms of SARS and contributes to the speedy recovery.
5. Acne and acne on the face, especially in adolescents, can be a source of serious feelings and psychological complexes. To clear the face of hated inflammation will help the blue mineral. To do this, it is recommended to wash every morning with water, in which some time there was a stone. Wearing a pendant with tanzanite will also have an anti-inflammatory effect.
6. If it is still possible to argue with the previous points, then the effectiveness of tanzanite as a sedative, even if very expensive, has been proven and confirmed by many people. Contemplation of the stone relaxes the body and mind, calms the nervous system, relieves anxiety, makes a person more balanced, allows him to respond to complex stressful situations more adequately, without panic and unnecessary emotions. Tanzanite also helps with insomnia and depression.

First of all, the mineral of the color of the ocean is suitable for water signs (Pisces, Cancers and Aquarius). He is their talisman, patronizes them and helps in different life situations.

Tanzanite is also recommended to be carried by unrestrained people, those who find it difficult to control their emotions, who often throw them out on others. These are, as a rule, signs of the fire element: Leo, Sagittarius and especially Aries are the most hot-tempered and temperamental of them. The blue crystal will make its owner more balanced and less susceptible to the influence of momentary feelings and gusts.

As for the other representatives of the zodiacal constellation, they can also wear jewelry with tanzanite: it enhances the positive qualities and weakens the negative ones.

Earrings or pendant with tanzanite help to enhance the feminine charm, so they are recommended to be worn by girls who want to meet a loved one or simply attract the attention of the opposite sex, causing trembling of men's hearts.

Such an incredibly beautiful and exclusive stone is deservedly in high demand, which means that the fraudsters have a great temptation to fake it, which they do.

An ordinary glass can be hidden under tanzanite. A very thin layer of natural tanzanite is applied on top of it, which can deceive an inexperienced buyer and convince him that there is really blue zoisite in front of him. To identify such a fake, especially when the stone is already inserted in the decoration, it is very difficult.

For tanzanite sometimes give blue sapphire artificial origin, however, this fake is more expensive, so this method is used less often.

To distinguish real tanzanite from its cheap "clones" can be on several grounds.

• If the stone is too unnatural color, too bright and defiant - in front of you, most likely, a fake. The color of this tanzanite is calmer, deeper and more saturated.

• Pleochroism is one of the most important characteristics of tanzanite.This item is the quickest and easiest to check, just turn the jewelry with a stone in your hand. It should sparkle with blue and purple tints, changing color depending on the position and how the light falls.

• This way you can check the stone for a fake only at home. To do this, lower it into the water. If the crystal retains its color, it means that you bought real tanzanite. And if during the dive the stone brightened completely or its separate areas became bright, this indicates the work of the scammers.

• If you are offered to buy a stone at a suspiciously low price - this is the first reason to think about its “unrealism”. Faceted natural tanzanite is expensive. Overcome the desire to save, then not to become the stingy, who eventually pay twice. The cost of 1 carat of tanzanite varies in the market from 300 to 1000 dollars.

• The stone must be clean and transparent. This means that no extraneous matter in the faceted crystal should not be present. Transparency is achieved by exposure to high temperatures during processing.

To reduce the risk of buying fake tanzanite, it is necessary to approach its acquisition very responsibly. It is best to contact well-known jewelry companies that have already proven themselves in the market. Or contact an experienced specialist who will check the stone for authenticity.

Almost simultaneously with the appearance of tanzanite on the catwalk in the famous Tiffany collection, his “film career” also began.

The popular actress Elizabeth Taylor, the famous Cleopatra, made a significant contribution to the popularization of this stone. She loved to wear jewelry with tanzanite, because this stone, like no other, coincided with the violet color of her eyes, emphasizing their unusualness and beauty.

But the most famous decoration with tanzanite in cinema is, of course, the pendant from Oscar-winning film “Titanic” by James Cameron, which was presented to the heroine by Kate Winslett her fiancé. Yes, yes, the role of the rare blue diamond “heart of the ocean” was played by none other than tanzanite!

The largest untreated tanzanite was discovered in 2005. Its dimensions: 280x80x70 mm. The weight of the stone is almost 17 thousand carats or more than 3 kg. Crystal named Mawenzi in honor of the second highest peak of Kilimanjaro, at the foot of which it was found.

The most famous faceted tanzanite in the world belongs to Michael Scott, the first executive director of Apple. The stone is part of the luxurious “Queen of Kilimanjaro” tiara surrounded by more than 900 diamonds. The weight of the blue crystal is 242 carats.

Another large faceted copy of a blue crystal weighing 122.7 carats is in the museum collection of the Smithsonian Institution in the USA.

Since tanzanite is a very fragile stone, it requires maximum careful attitude and delicate care. Here are some basic rules for handling it.

• Tanzanite is stored separately from other jewelry in individual packaging: it can be a velvet bag, but it is better to use a box or a box. The stone should not come into contact with other jewelery and hard objects, otherwise they can easily damage it and leave scratches on it.
• Tanzanite is contraindicated for high temperatures and high humidity, so before going to the sauna you need to remove the decoration with tanzanite. Too low temperatures for the crystal are also undesirable.
• The stone should be cleaned with a wet cloth moistened with soapy water. At the same time, the soap should also be gentle - it is best to use a baby one, since it is more gentle and natural. The water should be just above room temperature, but not hot.
• Tanzanite cannot be cleaned with aggressive chemicals and tough sponges can be used!

Such a luxurious stone, like tanzanite, should be part of the evening dress only. It shines most brightly with all its facets precisely under artificial light. In this case, you should not use too bright makeup, an excess of accessories and small details in a dress is also harmful - the stone alone will cope with the task of riveting all attention to its owner. It will look great even against the background of an ordinary black dress, bringing to the image a unique highlight.

With him, any woman will look gorgeous! It is best to use a stone in the set: wear, for example, a necklace and earrings or a ring with earrings.

Tanzanite is not suitable for everyday bow, unless you are a glamorous diva - then the stone will perfectly complement it. But it is still better to wear in the afternoon, so as not to look too vulgar, to use jewelry with small crystals, and it is advisable to choose some one product - a ring, bracelet or earrings.

Only diamonds can be worthy neighbors of tanzanite. They emphasize the magnificence of the blue crystal, make it more spectacular and brighter. Despite the high cost and value, diamonds in tandem with tanzanite will play a secondary role, becoming only a brilliant and very expensive frame for it.

However, if you want to wear tanzanite as an amulet, then combination with other stones can strengthen certain of its magical properties. So, it is recommended to combine tanzanite with amethyst in one ornament if you wish to achieve success on the love front. A close “friendship” between topaz and tanzanite will contribute to success in business and promotion. But for young girls it is best to combine tanzanite with ruby ​​- this promises success in both areas: both personal and professional.

Even the most colorful description does not convey all the dazzling beauty of tanzanite, which easily won the hearts of many people.

On the properties of the stone of the new millennium, see below.