Green Tanzanite Gemstones

Green Tanzanite Gemstones

Green Tanzanite is a rare variation of the Tanzanite gemstone to the more well-known blue. Tanzanite itself is a variety of the mineral zoisite, primarily found in a small region of Tanzania, near Mount Kilimanjaro. Green Tanzanite shows a greenish hue, which can range from soft, pale green to deeper, richer green tones.

About twenty years ago vivid green Tanzanite hit the market for a very short time. This material was similar in color to chrome Tourmaline and was very attractive and quite valuable. Material that is available today has a mix of yellow and or blue with the green and is not as desirable or as valuable. This material is valued at a much less than the comparably sized blue violet Tanzanite and will not likely increase significantly in value as is expected for blue violet Tanzanite.

Characteristics of Green Tanzanite:

1. Color: The green color in Tanzanite is caused by the presence of trace elements such as vanadium and chromium. In many cases, Tanzanite stones are heat-treated to enhance their blue or violet hues, but the green variation might be more naturally occurring or require less treatment.

2. Rarity: Green Tanzanite is incredibly rare, and in many cases, it is considered even more rare than the more commonly known blue Tanzanite. Since the color is less common, it often garners more attention from collectors and gem enthusiasts.

3. Sources: Like blue Tanzanite, green Tanzanite is found only in one location in the world – a small area near the Mererani Hills in Tanzania. This geographic limitation makes the stone even more precious and sought-after.

4. Appearance: Green Tanzanite often shows a beautiful play of color, with different angles revealing varying hues of green and blue. It can sometimes display a color-changing effect, where the stone shifts between blue and green depending on the lighting.

5. Hardness: Tanzanite has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, which means it is somewhat softer than other gemstones like sapphire and ruby. While it is still durable enough for use in jewelry, it may require extra care to avoid scratches.