By Chisom Ibemere
Zoisite was first discovered in the 19th century by a mineralogist whose name is Saualpius von Zois. The mineral was named after him in recognition of his contributions to the field. Zoisite is widespread and found in locations around the world like Austria, Brazil, Italy, Tanzania, and Switzerland.
Zoisite is found in metamorphic rocks and occurs in associated with other minerals such as garnet, feldspar, and quartz. It has variety of colors, with green and blue being the most common. The blue variety of zoisite referred to as “tanzanite” and notable as a result of its occurrence in Tanzania.
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Zoisite is basically used as a gemstone and is cut into various shapes and sizes for use in jewelry such as pendants, rings, earrings, and bracelets. Tanzanite, the blue variety of zoisite, is highly sought-after due to its vibrant color and rarity. It is often times used in decorations and carvings or as a collectible mineral specimen.
Zoisite occurs in a wide range of colors, including green, blue, pink, brown, and gray. It has a hardness of 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale with a Vitreous to pearly lustre. It may be transparent or translucent with a refractive index of 1.68 to 1.71.
The value of zoisite varies depending on factors such as color, clarity, size, and overall quality. Tanzanite, being the most coveted variety, can be valued quite high, especially for larger, fine-quality stones. The market demand and supply also play a significant role in determining the global value of zoisite.
