Ruby Zoisite
Ruby Zoisite
Zoisite is type of mineral, it was first discovered by the mineral dealer Simon Prešern, who discovered it in the Saualpe mountains of Austria in 1805. He brought a sample to the Slovene mineralogist Sigmund Zois (1747-1819), who recognized it as a previously unknown mineral. It was first named Saualpite, after its location, then named Zoisite in honor of Baron Zois.
There are in fact three gemstone members of the zoisite species: tanzanite, thulite and anyolite. Tanzanite, still found only in its first location in Tanzania, is very well-known, but thulite and anyolite are not. Thulite is an opaque, massive manganese-rich variety of zoisite that is pink in color.
Anyolite was first discovered near Longido in Tanzania in 1954. Though considered a variety of zoisite, strictly speaking it is a metamorphic rock composed of intergrown green zoisite, black hornblende and ruby. Sometimes it is called Ruby-Zoisite, since its chief attraction is the interesting contrast of green zoisite and red ruby. The name Anyolite apparently comes from the Masai anyoli, meaning “green.”
While it was was not fine ruby, this material eventually found its uses in carvings, ornamental objects and cabochons. The combination of the green zoisite with its black streaks of hornblende, and the rich red and pink ruby is unique and attractive. It is one of the most colorful ornamental stones found in the world and the abundance of the material makes it very affordable, even in larger sizes. Ruby-zoisite rocks are difficult to fashion because of marked differences of hardness of their chief constituents.
Ruby-zoisite carvings are very popular, and the material is particularly well-suited for figures like turtles. Large cabochons make attractive pendants and recently we have seen some nicely polished faceted pieces that are very attractive.