Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Thursday Theme=Mineral

A mineral is a naturally occurring solid formed through geological processes that has a characteristic chemical composition, a highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties. A rock, by comparison, is an aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids, and need not have a specific chemical composition. Minerals range in composition from pure elements and simple salts to very complex silicates with thousands of known forms. The study of minerals is called mineralogy.---- Wikipedia



Uncut Tanzanite


TANZANITE, the gemstone variety of zoisite
VARIETY INFORMATION:

VARIETY OF: Zoisite, Ca2Al3(SiO4)3(OH), Calcium Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide.
USES: Gemstone
COLOR: various shades of blue to lavender, deeper along the crystal axis.
INDEX OF REFRACTION: 1.68 - 1.72
BIREFRINGENCE: is good
HARDNESS: 6.5-7
CLEAVAGE: perfect in one direction
CRYSTAL SYSTEM: orthorhombic

Tanzanite is relatively new on the gemstone market, but has left its mark. Its blue-lavender color is rather unique and a wonderful addition to the gemstone palette. Found in Tanzania (hence the name) in 1967, it has since become a well known and widely distributed gemstone. It has become so popular that in October of 2002 the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) announced that tanzanite had joined zircon and turquoise in the traditional list of birthstones for the month of December.
It has better fire than the tourmaline elbaite or peridot and an adequate hardness. Its only one direction of cleavage is somewhat of a problem because it is oriented with the direction of strongest pleochroism. This would be a problem in most gemstones because that is the direction the gemcutter would usually select to maximize the color. However, with tanzanite the color is usually strong enough anyway.
Pleochroism is very pronounced in tanzanite and is seen as three different color shades in the same stone. In the viewing of a tanzanite stone from different angles, the colors dark-blue, green-yellow and red-purple can all be seen as a result of the pleochroism. Lesser stones may have a brownish color due to the mixing of blue, purple and green. These stones are usually heat treated to a deep blue color. Iolite is a blue-violet gemstone variety of the mineral cordierite, has strong pleochroism and can be confused with tanzanite. However, iolite is usually less strongly colored, its pleochroic colors vary from blue-violet to yellowish gray to blue and it has less fire.
Nearly all tanzanite has been heat treated to generate the beautiful violet-blue color this stone is known for. When first mined, most stones are a muted green color. The only known source of Tanzanite is a five square mile hilltop at Merelani, ten miles south of the Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania. ---Google-Minerals by NameThe Beautiful Land of Tanzanite

How I Came to Love Tanzanite
Five years ago I spent a week in Jamaica attending my youngest daughter's destination wedding. Needless to say a good time was had by all as our family from the USA gathered together for a glorious time. While there I went to the jewelry stores in our hotel looking for a blue sapphire ring, but an absolutely beautiful tanzanite with diamonds ring caught my eye. After looking at it on several occasions I purchased it on the day I departed Jamaica. This ring has become my second favorite piece of jewelry, my first is a diamond cross my oldest daughter gave me for Christmas nine years ago. It is the ring I wear practically all the time along with my mother's ring which has two garnets, two aquamarines and one topaz. I travel a lot and one of the things I always seem to come home with is a piece or two of jewelry(ring or earrings).



This is my tanzanite ring


To all People who loves Nature

Dear travel agent take money for the ticket,
enough for two first class return tickets,
to fly to a beautiful land of Tanzanite!
Respected pilot when do we start the flight,
a flight to the beautiful land of Tanzanite?
She has been waiting for me day and night,
waiting over there at Dar-es-Salaam Airport.
After breakfast at Kilimanjaro mountain top,
i will give her a wedding ring of Diamond,
before a wedding at the cornerstone church.
On a huge Ostrich we will take a free ride,
while watching animals in Ngorongoro park,
then a motorboats ride in the Victoria Lake.
I will buy her a special Tanzanite bracelet,
just before honeymoon in the Zanzibar Island.
We will eat fruits in the Masai Grassland,
then visit the mines of Diamonds and Gold.
We will visit the historical Olduvai Gorge,
while eating fish from the Lake Tanganyika.
Yes Tanzania the beautiful land of Tanzanite!
by
Edward Paul Manega


A GEM OF A DAY

click here to listen to the new ICA Gemstone Song... (Flash PlugIn required)

Lyrics:
The air is crystal clear and here comes the sun
Sending fire opal rays to chase the chills
Silent jasper Mountains know night is done
Fancy light fills the cabochon hills.

Aquamarine sky hosting glittering clouds
Wind is blowing - they sail lazily.
Throwing million dots of sparkles around
Like golden dust trapped in lapis lazuli.

--Chorus--
Listen to the colors, follow your heart,
Let us come together now,
From violet to red love traveled a mile,
We're coming and she's showing us how.

Citrine shore relaxing yellow and warm,
Small hematite fish play in the waves.
The sea is deep velvet blue sapphire
Cradling pearls inside their oysters.

Juicy mandarin fruits and amethyst grapes
Are growing between emerald leaves'
Tsavorite groves sread longing faacets on the earth
"Tanza-night" falls - fancy sapphire sun leaves.

This day is a Gem - saying one thing for all:
Love in you, I am them, calibrating hearts to this call:

--Chorus--
Listen to the colors, follow your heart,
Let us come together now,
From violet to red love traveled a mile,
We're coming and she's showing us how.

While opal moon escorted by topaz stars
Paints an onyx trail to the milky way,
Morganite cheeks with marble teeth smile
And hand you poppies red like ruby, like spinel, saying:

--Chorus--
Listen to the colors, follow your heart,
Let us come together now,
From violet to red love traveled a mile,
We're coming and she's showing us how.

30 comments:

Colette Amelia said...

that is a beautiful ring and indeed tanzanite is a beautiful rock!

maybe one day...sigh.

Dakota Bear said...

Colette Amelia-thank you!

Baino said...

I love that lilacy blue colour. Very pretty. I'm not much of a jewellery person but .. .things could change!

Ronda Laveen said...

The tanzanite has an electrifying quality about it. Very beautiful. I see why you fell in love with it. It is a worthy choice. Thanks for the history of the stone. I did not know of this.

Mrsupole said...

My daughters bought me a Tanzanite and diamond bracelet a few Christmas's ago. I had no idea about the history of it. It is a beautiful bracelet and light blue color in each stone.

Thank you for this information. Your ring is gorgeous. My favorite stone is the Opal. So the song with opals in it was great too. I got lot of those too. Can never go wrong with opals.

Thank you. Great post.

Anonymous said...

I don't think I learned this much in "Earth Science"( waaaaay back in high school ). Love the colouring of the Tanzanite and lyrics, in the second song :)

Joanne said...

Stunning ring, the tanzanite color for me evokes the sea. Maybe for you, too, bringing back memories of the special place and time where you bought it.

The Clever Pup said...

Thanks. I learned something new. Blue is such a great colour and I like your Tazanite ring very much.

Brian Miller said...

fun post. love the color of tanzanite.

New Yorker wannabes said...

It IS beautiful that ring of yours!! And it must carry some great memories for you lol

take care
peace and love
xoxo

Jaime said...

nice looking ring. the center stone of my engagement ring is a piece of blue tanzanite. are you constantly explaining to people that your ring isn't a blue diamond or saphire too?

Wings1295 said...

Love the ring. My wife's favorite gem is the sapphire, also blue.

Great post!!

Candie said...

Great post and thank you I didn't know that one.

Tess Kincaid said...

What a treasure! Tanzanite has such a magical quality.

Megan said...

Okay, totally new to me as well. And how come September couldn't get tanzanite? It's already got the sapphire, 'twould have been a nice match! Dumb December.

(Yes, I have a September birthday.)

Leah said...

Just a gorgeous post...

Patrice said...

That is one beautiful ring and stone. I think you just may have converted me from rubies to tanzanite.

Anonymous said...

I have never heard of tanzanite- but it is beautiful! I love your ring- it must bring you a lot of happiness to wear it :)

Evening Light Writer said...

What a beautiful stone, tanzanite..I love the electrifying tones of blue and purple. I adore that ring, how lovely and what a wonderful story to go along with it. Thanks for sharing!

Kris McCracken said...

This would look good in the style of the Phantom's ring.

It would match his lyotard.

Ruth said...

Tanzanite are gorgeous - and expensive! But that color!

This was interesting, thanks for all the info.

Anna said...

Thank for such an exhaustive exploration of Mineral. I learned a lot about Tanzanite. And I appreciate that you visited my blog. I would encourage you to come visit my blog again as I finally really posted to the theme!

Feisty Crone said...

What a gorgeous ring! I'm not into jewelry that much, but this is nice.

Anonymous said...

That was a really, really fun trip, I wish I had taken more photos. I remember shopping with you for a ring, but it was not this one, from what I understand.

CocoDivaDog said...

Hi DakBear,
The color of tanzanite is a lovely shade of blue. I think some would say "corn blue". If you look in a Crayola box of crayons, you'll see corn blue. The corn blue is my fav color.
Nice story about your daughter's wedding in Jamaica.

Whoistin-tinandsnowy? said...

Hi! Dakota Bear,
I decided to check out the Thursday Theme members, post on Saturdays because I have more free time to read and enjoy your themes.

I agree with the other members what a beautiful tanzanite ring and very informative educational information that you have provided.
Take care!
Deedee ;-D

Unknown said...

That is gorgeous stone.
We seem to spend half our lives just looking for beautiful 'wild' stones.

Betty said...

What a beautiful ring! And I enjoyed reading your post.

tony said...

I Want One Day To Live In A House Built of Tanzanite.

Mrsupole said...

Hi there,
I just wanted to tell you I have a gift for you today at my website, all you have to do is come by and pick it up at my website. It is very easy to do and so far everyone else is liking it very much and so I hope you do too. So I do hope you will stop by for a quick visit.

Take care and God bless.