Name:

zoisite

A photo of the mineral zoisite

Class:

Silicates

Chemistry:

Ca2Al3[Si3O12 (OH)

Color(s):

gray, yellowish brown, greenish, pink (thulite), blue (tanzanite)

Hardness:

6-6.5

SpecGrav:

3.2-3.4

Fracture:

conchoidal

Cleavage:

one good

Crystal:

Orthorhombic; long prismatic, deeply striated, columnar, bladed, fibrous

Envronment:

only in metamorphic rocks

Association:

hornblende, almandine, glaucophane, wollastonite

Locals:

NC. CA., TN., CO., USA / Tanzania / Italy / USSR /Austria / Switzerland

Misc:

named for Baron S. Zois van Edeltein (1747-1819), thulite named for Thule and ancient name for Norway, Tanzanite for the local Tanzania

Photos
& Locals:

1.) Tanzania, Africa
2.) Tanzania, Africa

3.) Tanzania, Africa
4.) Tanzania, Africa

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