What is Tanzanite?
Tanzanite is a member of the mineral group epidote and is a variety of Zoisites. Tanzanite is the best known of the zoisites and is found only in Tanzania. It is rarer than Diamond and comes in blue, lilac, and shades of purple.
Tanzanite gets its blue color from the mineral vanadium and is the second most coveted of the blue gemstones, after Sapphire
It is a calcium aluminum silicate, is transparent to opaque and the most coveted crystals are a deep, saturated blue color, with a hint of purple.
Almost all Tanzanite is heat treated to produce the deep blue color that distinguishes it.
In its raw form Tanzanite can be blue, purple, yellow, or brown,
The Origin: Where Is Tanzanite Found?
Tanzanite is only found in Tanzania. The most prolific site is in the foothills of Mt Kilimanjaro.
The History & Lore of Tanzanite
Because Tanzanite was only discovered in the last century, there are no records of old lore or myths surrounding it, at least not that we know of.
It is possible that ancient peoples did discover the blue stones and either gave them a different name or thought they were Sapphires.
The story of the discovery of Tanzanite goes like this: In 1967 a member of the Masai people came across a cluster of glittering purple and blue stones during a hunting expedition.
He knew that they were special and alerted a local fortune hunter, Manuel D’Souza, who immediately staked a claim to the land where they found, in Merelani, in Northern Tanzania.
He registered four mining claims, even though he had no idea what the crystals were.
Others quickly followed suit and within a very short space of time at least 90 more claims were filed for the surrounding land.
The gem owes much of its popularity to the Jewelry House of Tiffany who promoted it with a lavish campaign in 1968.
They became the main distributors of tanzanite until the government of Tanzania nationalized the mines in 1971.
There is a finite supply of Tanzanite on the planet and the price of high-grade stones is steadily rising to reflect this.
Crystals of blue and purple hues, like Tanzanite, honor the Greek goddess Sophia who personifies both wisdom and contradiction.
Athena, the Greek goddess of War and Wisdom, is also honored by Tanzanite because of its associations with wisdom, fairness, and loyalty.
Description of Tanzanite
A member of the mineral group epidote, Tanzanite is a form of Zoisite.
It owes its blue color to the presence of trace elements of chromium and vanadium in its structure.
Tanzanite is translucent to opaque and occurs in varying degrees of color saturation and tone.
How to Identify Tanzanite
All commercially available Tanzanite has been subjected to heat treatment to enhance the blue color of the stone and to reduce any yellow or brown tinges it may have.
However, fake Tanzanite is a completely different issue. The most common form of fake Tanzanite is colored glass.
Pleochroism
True Tanzanite is pleochroic, meaning that it appears to change color under different lights and according to the angle of view of the spectator.
If the stone you are looking at does not exhibit these color changes, from shades of blue to deep purples, it is probably colored glass.
Refractiveness
True Tanzanites are doubly refractive. To check this aspect of your stone you will need to view it through a dichroscope.
When you do this, you will two windows, each of which should show a different color.
Inclusions
Most specimens of Tanzanite are eye-clean, meaning that any flaws or inclusions the gem may have will not be visible to the naked eye.
If you can view your Tanzanite under a jeweler’s loupe. If there are no flaws in the stone, it is probably a fake.
Types of Tanzanite
Tanzanite is a one-of-a-kind stone, and whilst there are other examples of epidote and zoisite, there is really only one type of Tanzanite.
The colors of the specimens vary, as with all gems, but true Tanzanite is always blue and bears a close resemblance to Sapphire.
Tanzanite Birthstone Meaning & History
Tanzanite is a popular birthstone for the month of December. It is also a designated birthstone for the zodiac sign of Sagittarius (Nov22 – Dec 21).
Sagittarius is a Fire sign, ruled by the planet Jupiter, and most Sagittarians are generous, beneficent folk who are always looking for ways to improve a lot of those around them.
Sagittarius is represented by the centaur who holds a bow and arrow.
Sometimes referred to as The Archer, Sagittarius shows elements of both in their characteristic traits.
Like the Archers, they are capable of great focus and strength, pursuing their vision with tenacity and determination.
As centaurs are associated with Chiron, the Misunderstood Healer, Sagittarians are often healers and teachers, constantly searching for recognition and for a way to feel “at home” on Earth.
Tanzanite is the perfect stone for this zodiac sign. It brings peace and harmony to “lost souls” and helps them to find their true place and purpose on the Earthly planes.
Sagittarians are open and honest, sometimes to the point of giving offense, which they are always sorry for, but do not seem capable of changing the moral imperative that drives them to be brutally honest, even at the expense of others’ hurt feelings or disapproval.
Tanzanite can help to mitigate the effects of this lack of tact by ushering in clear communication and an atmosphere of harmony and cooperation between people.
Tanzanite Treatment
Tanzanite is a durable stone and can be cleaned safely using mild soap and warm water.
You can use a soft brush on the stone and its mount, if necessary, Rinse well and dry with a soft cloth to restore its sparkle.
How to Clean and Care for Tanzanite
Clean surface debris from your Tanzanite crystal as above. Avoid leaving the stone in harsh sunlight for long periods and avoid contact with chemicals.
Tanzanite is very receptive to charging and programming and makes an excellent meditation and manifestation stone.
Hold your crystals in your hand as you focus on the intent your wish manifest.
Notice any subtle changes in the crystal’s energy as you do this and slow your mind so that you can “tune in” to the stone’s vibration.
When you are relaxed and comfortable, send your thoughts into the stone, phrased in positive language.
Be as specific and as clear as you can about what you want to achieve or manifest in your life, send the message into the heart of the crystal, and remember to express gratitude.
Your Tanzanite should hold these positive intentions for at least a few days.
During this time, you can use your crystal as a memory aid to keep your vibration high and your thoughts and feeling optimistic and hopeful.
Buyers Guide: Tips & Advice
It is always more difficult to ascertain the quality of a stone if you are buying online, although the inclusion of videos on many retailers’ sites makes this process much easier.
Tanzanite Quality Factors
Color
This is the most significant quality factor to take into consideration when buying Tanzanite.
If the color of the stone is not of high quality, issues such as clarity, weight, and cut are not really going to have an impact on the price you pay.
Much is said and written about the color saturation of gemstones.
All this means is the intensity and strength of color that appear in the crystal.
As color intensity declines, in other words as Tanzanite specimens move from deep to light blues, the rarity and value of the individual stones decrease correspondingly.
We, humans, are naturally drawn to bright, vivid, and deep colors in gemstones.
This may be because these factors occur less frequently in nature, so when we find a particularly colorful example of a stone, we value it more highly.
Whatever the reasoning, it is true that in most colored gemstones, the deeper the saturation of the color, the higher the price.
With Tanzanite, it is relevant to mention Trichroism, sometimes called pleochroism.
As light passes through the crystal it vibrates on different planes, making the stone appear to change color depending on how it is angled towards the light.
Trichroism does not necessarily impact the value of the specimen of Tanzanite, but it is a characteristic of this stone, so it is worth mentioning here.
Clarity
As with other transparent colored gemstones, clarity is an important quality factor of Tanzanite.
It can appear flawless to the naked eye, or it may show evidence of flaws and inclusions in varying patterns.
The more heavily included the stone, the lower the value. To be classed as a type 1 gemstone by the GIA, Tanzanite needs to be flawless to the naked eye.
Be aware, however, that stones that appear to be without inclusions of flaws when viewed under magnification are probably fakes.
Cut
The way in which raw stone or “rough”, is cut can have a big impact on the quality of the finished gem.
In some places, techniques are used by cutters to maximize the weight of the crystal.
Some of these techniques can increase the weight of the finished stone by up to 30%, but this does not mean that the quality of the stone is better than a smaller, well-cut crystal.
In fact, it can result in an increase in the actual cost of the stone, although this is hidden from the buyer.
Below is a diagram of one of the methods used by some cutters to falsely inflate the cost of the finished Tanzanite. Kindly reproduced from:
Carat Weight
Minerals have different degrees of density, which affects their carat weight.
Sapphires and Rubies are very dense, whereas Diamonds are not. So, a one-carat Ruby, for example, will be smaller than a one-carat Diamond.
With Tanzanite, all of the quality factors need to be taken into consideration when the price is set.
Carat weight becomes important only when color and clarity are of the required standard.
A three-carat example, with high saturation of color, deep tones, and exceptional clarity will therefore be more valuable than a ten-carat stone of poorer color containing inclusions.
Tanzanite and Chakras
Tanzanite has a high vibration that is attuned to the Crown, Third Eye, and Throat chakras.
It unites the higher mind with intuition and communication.
The Throat chakra is, in effect, the voice of the body and works as a release valve for the body to express its dis-ease or discomfort in terms that can be acted upon in the outer world.
If your throat chakra is blocked for any reason or is out of balance due to restriction or enforced muteness, this can affect the healthy functioning of all the other chakras.
When the energy is flowing freely through the Throat chakra, we are able to communicate clearly, without fear or apprehension that our opinions or feelings will be negated or judged by others.
It promotes confidence in our dealings with the outside world and helps us to take care of our spiritual, mental, and physical health in the most appropriate ways.
The Brow or Third Eye chakra is important for helping us with our perception of the world.
We relate to ourselves through this chakra, and when it is out of balance, either too open or too closed, we get a distorted picture of who we are and what our purpose is.
We can become insular or overly familiar, or we can retreat into old beliefs and conditioning that make us feel “safe”.
The problem with this behavior is that it stunts our growth and narrows our world so that we miss out on opportunities for new experiences, learning, and growth.
The vibration of Tanzanite, on the Blue and Purple Rays, allows us to explore the Mystery of creation and our true place in the Universe, as well as encourage discernment, wisdom, and insight in our dealings with ourselves.
The Crown chakra forms a gateway for our consciousness to reach out into the expanded Universe beyond our physical bodies and our material existence here on Earth.
It governs our intellect and our controls the way we think.
When it is in balance and harmony with the other bodily chakras it allows us to be creative, imaginative, and enthusiastic in our interactions with everything around us.
When it is restricted or blocked, we can become cynical, skeptical, and grudging of the happiness of others.
Tanzanite helps to keep the chakra clear and clean by transmuting negative vibrations from external sources into loving, positive energies.
Tanzanite Healing Properties
Physical Healing Properties
Tanzanite is believed to be beneficial for the immune system. It improves vitality and detoxifies the blood as well as balancing the endocrine and hormonal systems of the body.
Tanzanite is a renewal stone and can help to regenerate damaged tissue as well as benefit the health and appearance of the skin and hair.
Some say that Tanzanite is protective against the side effects of surgical or medical intervention.
Tanzanite helps to alleviate headaches and to clear “brain fog”. It is also good for supporting and strengthening the kidneys and lungs.
This clear blue stone is often used to treat hearing problems and to soothe and calm the glands, nerves, and tissues of the head and throat.
Tanzanite is good for excessive sweating and can help to alleviate the symptoms of stress, nervous tension, and stress.
Mental & Emotional Healing Properties
Tanzanite has many benefits for your emotional and mental health and well-being.
It is valued as a stone of compassion and is especially good for those who spend too much time thinking and over-analyzing situations, including their own dilemmas.
It can help you to align the logic of your intellect with the love and understanding of your heart center.
Tanzanite carries an energy of joy and happiness.
It brings relief from worries by stimulating our capacity to see our emotional issues in a clear, unbiased light.
It is excellent for overcoming fears and for rebuilding trust.
Tanzanite allows the negative energies of unfounded fear or anxieties to be gently dispersed, replacing them with positive vibrations of love and understanding.
It is beneficial for those who fear judgment or criticism and encourages open, honest communication, especially in close relationships.
A necklace of Tanzanite can help to activate and open the Throat chakra so that we feel supported and confident when we need to speak out, in defense of our own truths and as advocates for others.
Metaphysical Properties
Tanzanite has a strong connection to the psychic world.
It is an excellent stone for novices who want to explore their own powers of clairvoyance, mediumship, and clairsentience.
It has a gentle, protective vibration that prevents psychic revelations from becoming overwhelming.
It helps you to make sense of signs, symbols, and messages that you may receive as you begin to open up psychically.
Tanzanite is also helpful psychologically as it can be used in meditation to assist you in finding your true vocation.
Tanzanite harmonizes the energy fields of the body and mind.
It is good for those who tend to work too hard and push themselves to the limit as it teaches patience and the importance of self-love and self-care.
Used in the workplace, Tanzanite brings benefits in the areas of clear communication and in resolving conflicts or differences between individuals.
Its calming, soothing vibration allows for the dispersal of tension in the atmosphere and for more harmonious working relationships.
Spiritual Healing Properties
Tanzanite has a high, fine spiritual vibration.
It is valued amongst spiritual healers and teachers for its loving, protective energies, and its qualities of opening the heart and spirit to the vibrations of cosmic consciousness.
Tanzanite allows spiritual transformation through the Violet Flame.
The Violet Flame is a recognized metaphysical tool that is often used in meditation to clear blocked or stuck energies from the subtle body.
A combination of the healing rays of red and blue, the Violet Flame is closely associated with the Archangel Zadkiel who facilitates transformation on a grand scale.
It carries a powerful, cleaning vibration that is usually brought down through the Crown chakra, through the other chakras, and finally grounded through the Base or Root chakra into the earth.
It is believed to be especially beneficial for shifting blocked emotional or mental energies and for transmuting the effects of past life traumas.
Tanzanite facilitates inner and outer journeying, opens chakras in the outer bio-magnetic sheath, and aligns their energies to the chakras of the physical body.
It helps to make deeper connections with your soul, with the angelic realms, Ascended Masters, and spirit guides.
When you want to raise your spiritual vibration and enter altered states of consciousness, Tanzanite is an excellent tool for this kind of development work.
Tanzanite is also good for sharing spiritual knowledge and insights between people.
It is great for generating understanding, tolerance, and compassion for different beliefs, approaches, and interpretations in spiritual matters.
If you are interested in accessing your Akashic records, Tanzanite will help you to enter the necessary deep meditative state.
How to Use Tanzanite
As Jewelry
Tanzanite worn as earrings or around the throat is of benefit to the Throat chakra and to the physical organs of the neck, throat, ears, and eyes.
It is sufficiently robust to be worn as a ring.
Wearing Tanzanite as jewelry means that you can access its support and metaphysical qualities throughout the day.
Although a few people are super-sensitive to its high vibration so you may want to monitor your reactions and take action accordingly.
In-Home and Office
Place Tanzanite near your computer if you use one, and also near your cell phone, to protect you from the potentially harmful effects of electronic emanations.
You can put Tanzanite in the career corner of your home to give your job prospects a boost.
Also, place in areas where family and friends often gather to ensure harmonious communication and relationships.
Best Crystal and Gemstone Combinations with Tanzanite
Tanzanite combines well with a range of crystals for different purposes.
It is a high energy stone and can therefore be paired with other high energy minerals such as Herkimer Diamond or Moldavite in order to further increase its effectiveness and power.
Tanzanite with Amethyst
Combining Amethyst with Tanzanite is excellent for promoting spiritual enlightenment and development.
It also protects the Third Eye chakra during psychic work so that the process does not become overwhelming or frightening, especially if you are new to this kind of work.
Tanzanite with Sugilite
Pairing Tanzanite with Sugilite is excellent for speeding up the healing processes of the body.
It is also a good combination for dealing with issues of self-worth and self-esteem.
Final Thoughts & Conclusion
Tanzanite is a beautiful stone that is robust enough to be made into jewelry for everyday wear.
When you wear a Tanzanite ring or necklace you are able to draw on its metaphysical properties at all times.
Tanzanite makes an excellent stone for meditation and manifestation work and is receptive to programming for use in healing grids and mandalas.
Tanzanite has a high, fine, spiritual vibration and can assist you in your spiritual growth and development by opening up your mind and higher chakras to Divine guidance.
It is a wonderful stone to use in psychic work as it protects the user from the effects of intense psychic experiences.
And encourages the gentle growth of the psychic gifts of clairvoyance, clairsentience, and clairaudience.
