Tanzanite quartz may be similar to tanzanite in appearance, but it is not the same gemstone. Tanzanite quartz is either clear quartz treated to look like tanzanite--a violet-blue, expensive and rare gemstone--or quartz with a natural color similar to tanzanite's.
Composition
The chemical name for quartz is silicon dioxide, meaning it forms from one part silicon and two parts oxygen.
Properties
Tanzanite quartz, like all quartz, rates 7 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness. It is harder than true tanzanite, which rates at a 6 or 6.5. Quartzes have no distinct patterns of cleavage, or common places where the crystal will fracture.
Appearance
Tanzanite is a violet-blue color. Tanzanite quartz will have a similar coloring, even though it may not achieve the same depth of color. Some tanzanite quartz will be transparent, while others will be more opaque. This difference may help distinguish it from tanzanite, which has a strong tendency toward transparency.
Tanzanite
True tanzanite is a form of zoisite (calcium aluminum silicate hydroxide). It gets its name from the one place in the world where it is found: Tanzania, Africa.
Amethyst
The colors of amethyst range from a practically clear purple to a deep, dark purple. Hints of blue may make some amethysts look more like tanzanite rather than pure purple amethysts.
References
- “The Encyclopedia of Gemstones and Minerals”; Martin Holden; 1991
- “Gems and Jewelry”; Joel E. Arem; 1992
- International Colored Gem Association: Tanzanite
About the Author
Kelly Wall has been writing news articles since 2007. Her work has been published in "The Informer." She graduated from the University of Hartford in December 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in international studies and minors in communications and Spanish.
Photo Credits
améthyste image by chantal cecchetti from Fotolia.com