Sep 22, 2014

A to Z of Gemstones - Z is for Zoisite

Zoisite is a calcium aluminium hydroxy sorosilicate belonging to the epidote group of minerals. It was named in 1805 after Austrian scientist and naturalist Baron Sigmund Zois von Edelstein who had a notable mineral collection and identified Zoisite as being a unique mineral species.

Zoisite may be blue to violet, green, brown, pink, yellow, gray, or colorless.  Sources of zoisite include Tanzania (tanzanite), Kenya (anyolite), Norway (thulite), Switzerland, Austria, India, Pakistan, and the U.S. state of Washington.

Zoisite is the mineral of some very diverse gem materials including Anyolite or Ruby in Zoisite and Tanzanite, both of which can only be found in Tanzania.

Ruby in Zoisite was discovered at the Longido mining district in northeast Tanzania by Tom Blevins, an English prospector. This is a brilliant green variety of Zoisite associated with medium grade rubies. The red rubies are often distorted and irregularly spread throughout the sea of massive green zoisite. Ruby in Zoisite is also heavily included with black hornblende minerals.

Tanzanite is the most well  known variety of the zoisite mineral group. It was discovered in 1967 by Masai tribesman in the hills of Northern Tanzania. It is a transparent blue zoisite that is colored by the presence of vanadium. Some blue zoisite is found naturally but most is produced by heat-treating brown zoisite. The heat changes the oxidation state of vanadium to produce the blue color. Tanzanite is the second most popular blue stone, after sapphire.


http://www.shazzabethcreations.co.nz/#!product/prd1/2228422911/ruby-in-zoisite-sterling-wired-bangle
Pictured above is my Ruby in Zoisite Sterling Wired Bangle. Below are some more examples of Ruby in Zoisite and Tanzanite jewellery from some members of the Jewelry on Etsy team.

https://www.etsy.com/nz/listing/112269202/ruby-in-zoisite-sterling-silver-necklace

https://www.etsy.com/nz/listing/201858679/ruby-in-zoisite-bracelet-gemstone

https://www.etsy.com/nz/listing/200728432/dainty-tanzanite-ring-in-tarnish

https://www.etsy.com/nz/listing/92649013/tanzanite-bar-necklace-gold-filled

Sep 15, 2014

Work in Progress - Bi-coloured Quartz Necklace & Earrings (3)

Well life and my insomnia (leaving me too tired to do anything) seems to keep getting in the way of finishing this piece but at least the front section of the necklace is now complete. I now need to make a chain to hang it from! Hopefully I can make some progress on that this week.

Sep 10, 2014

Art Jewellery Competition

I have entered my Oceania Necklace, pictured above, in the Art Jewelry Photo Contest. I would love it if you could vote for me. I'm a bit late posting about this as the voting closes at midnight on Friday 12th (presumably US time), bet better late than never. I have put a link on the side bar of my blog and will also try to post it below. All votes will be much appreciated.


Sep 7, 2014

Treasuries

https://www.etsy.com/treasury/NTI2MzM4OHwyNzI2NzU0OTY2/colours-of-summer
One of the things that I like about the Etsy Online Marketplace is the ability to create "treasurys". These are effectively a group of 16 items, all available for sale on the Etsy site that have been curated together into one collection or treasury. Usually there will be a common theme between all the items, often colour but can just as easily be something else. It can be great fun to curate a treasury, exploring the different items that are available, and I often find new favourites that way. Equally of course it is thrilling when someone had chosen one of your items for their treasury.

The treasury pictured above is one that I have curated and titled "Colours of Summer". All items are coloured coral and turquoise.

The treasury pictured below was curated by another Etsy member and includes one of my items, my Blue Lace Agate Pendant. The treasury is titled "Blue Skies" and all the items in the treasury are coloured sky blue.
https://www.etsy.com/treasury/MjQ4NDYxMjZ8MjcyNjc0NTU4OA/blue-skies

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails