tanzanite

Definition

A trichroic violet-blue variety of the mineral zoisite mined in Tanzania, used as a gemstone.

Etymology

From Tanzania + -ite (suffix forming nouns denoting minerals or rocks), coined by Henry B. Platt, a vice president of the American jeweler Tiffany & Co. when it first marketed the gem in 1968: see the October 3, 1968, quotation.

Example Sentences

• "For those to whom gems light the way, a brand new semi-precious stone will be seen for the first time. Called "Tanzanite," the stone was discovered recently in Tanzania. A blue, very much like sapphire, with a slight violet cast, it is exclusive with Tiffany."
• "Last February the new gem was spotted by Harry Platt. […] Just what happened to zoisite in one certain mine in Tanzania, near the Kenya border, nobody knows. Harry Platt bought as many of the freak stones as he could find and had them cut and polished especially for Tiffany. He named the stone tanzanite for its native country. […] None of the Tiffany tanzanites are the same color. They shade from the vivid marine blue of the 48-carat stone to the soft gray blue of a star sapphire. Characteristic of all of them are the purple or green flashes inside the tanzanites when they are held up to the light."
• "Although there are dozens of different types of gems, among the best known and most important are diamond, ruby and sapphire, emerald and other gem forms of the mineral beryl, chrysoberyl, tanzanite, tsavorite, topaz and jade."

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