Tanzanite
Overview
Tanzanite is the blue to violet variety of the mineral zoisite. It is strongly pleochroic, which means it shows different colors (blue, violet and sometimes burgundy) when viewed from different directions. Most tanzanite on the market is gently heated to bring out its blue-violet color.
It is softer than sapphire (6–7 on the Mohs scale), so it is better suited to earrings and pendants than to rings worn every day.
Origins
Tanzanite was discovered in the late 1960s and is mined commercially in only one place: the Merelani Hills of northern Tanzania.
The full tanzanite guide is being written by the Tavira Gems Editorial Team.
Last updated November 2, 2026 by the Tavira Gems Editorial Team.