T
TANZANITE
Name: named by Tiffany & Co. after Tanzania, the country it was discovered in.
AKA: Blue Zoisite.
Description: A variety of the mineral zoisite. A transparent blue, light to dark violetish blue and bluish purple gem. Typically shows strong pleochroism (displays different colors from different directions) usually looks violetish blue from some directions, purplish or burgundy/red flashes from another angle. It is a special-care gemstone because of its sensitivity to thermal shock and the potential for cleavage.
Chemical Composition: (Ca2Al3(SiO4)3(OH))
Variety: zoisite
Color: light to dark violetish blue and bluish purple, pure blue typically with strong pleochroism that usually looks violetish blue from some directions, purplish from others. Rich, deep hues are valued most.
Color Grades of Tanzanite:
B: Light lavender-blue, pale and translucent.
A: Soft blue-violet, gentle color tone.
AA: Medium violet-blue, balanced and bright.
AAA: Deep royal blue, vivid and rich.
D Block: Intense velvety blue with red flashes — rarest and finest.
Treatments: Heat produces tanzanite color in transparent brownish material. Stable and permanent. Routine. Undetectable, but assumed because of prevalence.
Moh’s Hardness: 6 to 7.
Toughness: Fair to Poor (due to cleavage and sensitivity to thermal shock. It has perfect cleavage in one direction, making it susceptible to splitting if struck hard).
Location Found: Tanzania.
Birthstone: December.
Wedding Anniversaries: 8th and 24th.
Zodiac Signs: Capricorn; Sagittarius.
Chakra Associations: Crown; Third Eye; Throat.
Historical Associations: new beginnings; transformation; beauty; intuition; psychic abilities; clairvoyance; raising consciousness; dissolve old patterns and habits; health; well-being; prosperity; rarity; health; well-being; wealth; lightning; sky; the divine; calm an overactive mind; detoxification; spiritual insights; integrate higher knowledge; speak with compassion and clarity; facilitate change; moving forward with confidence..
Historically Used to Treat: immune system; detoxify blood; regenerate cells; skin; hair; stress; inflammation.
Care: Sudden temperature change can cause cracking. Attacked by hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acid. Avoid harsh household cleaners and acids as they can etch the surface. Never use steam or ultrasonic cleaner. Use warm, soapy water and a very soft brush.
Imitations: Glass; Synthetic sapphire; Synthetic spinel; Synthetic spinel; Foron (a brand of glass); Tanavyte (purple YAG); Colored Cubic Zirconia.
Synthetics: No commercial synthetic exists.
AKA: Blue Zoisite.
Description: A variety of the mineral zoisite. A transparent blue, light to dark violetish blue and bluish purple gem. Typically shows strong pleochroism (displays different colors from different directions) usually looks violetish blue from some directions, purplish or burgundy/red flashes from another angle. It is a special-care gemstone because of its sensitivity to thermal shock and the potential for cleavage.
Chemical Composition: (Ca2Al3(SiO4)3(OH))
Variety: zoisite
Color: light to dark violetish blue and bluish purple, pure blue typically with strong pleochroism that usually looks violetish blue from some directions, purplish from others. Rich, deep hues are valued most.
Color Grades of Tanzanite:
B: Light lavender-blue, pale and translucent.
A: Soft blue-violet, gentle color tone.
AA: Medium violet-blue, balanced and bright.
AAA: Deep royal blue, vivid and rich.
D Block: Intense velvety blue with red flashes — rarest and finest.
Treatments: Heat produces tanzanite color in transparent brownish material. Stable and permanent. Routine. Undetectable, but assumed because of prevalence.
Moh’s Hardness: 6 to 7.
Toughness: Fair to Poor (due to cleavage and sensitivity to thermal shock. It has perfect cleavage in one direction, making it susceptible to splitting if struck hard).
Location Found: Tanzania.
Birthstone: December.
Wedding Anniversaries: 8th and 24th.
Zodiac Signs: Capricorn; Sagittarius.
Chakra Associations: Crown; Third Eye; Throat.
Historical Associations: new beginnings; transformation; beauty; intuition; psychic abilities; clairvoyance; raising consciousness; dissolve old patterns and habits; health; well-being; prosperity; rarity; health; well-being; wealth; lightning; sky; the divine; calm an overactive mind; detoxification; spiritual insights; integrate higher knowledge; speak with compassion and clarity; facilitate change; moving forward with confidence..
Historically Used to Treat: immune system; detoxify blood; regenerate cells; skin; hair; stress; inflammation.
Care: Sudden temperature change can cause cracking. Attacked by hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acid. Avoid harsh household cleaners and acids as they can etch the surface. Never use steam or ultrasonic cleaner. Use warm, soapy water and a very soft brush.
Imitations: Glass; Synthetic sapphire; Synthetic spinel; Synthetic spinel; Foron (a brand of glass); Tanavyte (purple YAG); Colored Cubic Zirconia.
Synthetics: No commercial synthetic exists.
Tiger’s Eye
Description: a chatoyant, semi-translucent to opaque gemstone with a silky, lustrous appearance.
Group: Quartz
Composition: SiO2 (Silicon Dioxide) Forms when parallel veins of crocidolite are altered to iron oxides and then replaced by quartz.
Color: It has a color range of golden-yellow to deep red-brown, red, blue, and green. The red variant is also known as Ox Eye and/or Bull’s Eye. The grayish-blue variant is also known as Hawk’s Eye or Falcon’s Eye. Zebra Tiger’s Eye is a variant that has grayish or blue streaks. Cat’s Eye Quartz is a variant that is brownish yellow, brownish green to greenish yellow and shows a true cat’s eye effect by being cut as a cabochon.
Treatments:
Heat (produces a reddish brown color; red tiger’s eye is often heat treated); common.
Bleaching lightens the color and it is often followed by plastic coating to seal the structure; excellent stability; commonly done.
Dyeing adds various color (usually stable; may be affected by solvents or fade with prolonged exposure to bright light) and is commonly done.
Moh’s hardness: 7.
Location Found: South Africa; Australia; Brazil; Canada; China; India; Korea; Myanmar (Burma); Namibia; Spain; Sri Lanka; United States of America (Arizona, California).
Birthstone: November.
Wedding Anniversaries: 9th, 18th.
Zodiac Signs: Aquarius, Aries, Capricorn, Gemini, Leo. Libra (blue). Taurus (all).
Chakra Associations: Root; Sacral; Solar Plexus.
Historical Associations: protection; balance; grounding; Earth; Sun; Mars; Ketu (Vedic astrology); Jupiter; fire. equilibrium; stability; self-confidence; courage; personal power; overcome obstacles; take action; clarity; focus; decision making; prosperity; good fortune; abundance; attracting wealth; good judgment; inner wisdom; intuition; psychic abilities strengthened; physical well-being; power; protection; inner authority; confidence; willpower; clarity; shield from ill wishes/intent, negative energies, shield from psychic attacks; strategic stillness; sharp awareness; harmonizes dualities (light/shadow, courage/caution); unblock creative energy; wisdom; a shield stone for travelers and leaders.
Historically Used to Treat: mental fog; improve focus; balance emotional extremes; release tension; increase vital energy; lethargy; digestive system issues; adrenal balance; lethargy; self-doubt; stress.
Care: Sudden temperature change can cause fracturing. Chemically (hydrofluoric acid, ammonium fluorite, alkalis) soluble. Risky to steam clean. Ultrasonic cleaning is usually safe. Warm, soapy water and a soft cloth.
Imitations: Glass; Plastic.
TOPAZ
Name: There are two beliefs as to where the word “topaz” came from. Some believe that it comes from the Sanskrit word “Tapas”, meaning “fire”; while others believe that it comes from the Greek word “Topazos,” which was a name for a small island in the Red Sea. “Swiss Blue” and “London Blue” Topaz are trade names for specific shades of treated blue topaz. The name for “London Blue” Topaz came from it being first created in London in the early 19th century.
AKA: Aluminum Silicate Fluoride. Stone of Manifestation and Truth.
Description: Topaz has an exceptionally wide color range that includes blue, green, yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, and colorless. The special trade names for topaz are: Imperial Topaz (orange body with pinkish undertones; medium reddish orange to orange-red) and Sherry Topaz (yellowish-brown or brownish-yellow to orange). Today, the most sought-after color is Imperial topaz. Blue Topaz gets its color from iron and has a color range from pale blue to sky blue to London blue to indigo. Today, the most sought-after color of blue topaz today is the Swiss and London blue topaz. Swiss Blue has a bright, vivid, electric blue color with a light tone and light to moderate saturation and can sometimes look like aquamarine color-wise. London Blue is a dark blue topaz with a moderate to dark tone and saturation.
Color: Topaz gets its color from trace elements (iron, chromium, titanium, manganese) and has a color range from blue, green, brown, orange, yellow, red, pink, purple, violet, grey, and white (colorless).
Treatments: heat, irradiation, and surface coating. Mystic Topaz made its debut in 1998 at the Hong Kong Jewelry Fair and is created by coating a natural colorless topaz with a fine mist of titanium on its surface. Blue Topaz treatments are irradiation and heat, and they are permanent.
Heat changes some yellow, orange, or brown material to pink. Stable. Common. Undetectable, but usually assumed because of prevalence.
Irradiation followed by heat produces various shades of blue from colorless material. Stable. Routine (almost all medium to dark blue topaz is produced by treatment). Usually undetectable but assumed because of prevalence. Occasionally detectable by a gemologist or gemological laboratory. Caution: may very rarely be dangerously radioactive.
Surface Coating is used to create colors such as seen in the Mystic Topaz.
Moh’s Hardness: 8.
Toughness: poor due to cleavage.
Location Found: Australia; Brazil (Minas Gerais, Ouro Preto); Germany; India; Japan (Takayama, Tanokamiyama); Madagascar; Mexico; Myanmar (Burma); Namibia; Nigeria; Pakistan; Russia (Ural Mountains; Siberia). Scotland (Cairngorm Mountains, especially Ben a Buird); Sri Lanka; USA (California, Colorado, Texas, Utah); Zimbabwe.
Birthstone: November (imperial, yellow); December (blue).
Wedding Anniversaries: 4th (blue), 23rd (imperial).
Zodiac Signs: Aries (Blue Topaz); Leo (Blue Topaz, Imperial Topaz, Yellow Topaz); Scorpio (Imperial Topaz, Yellow Topaz); Sagittarius (Blue, Imperial Topaz, Yellow Topaz).
Chakra Associations: Crown (clear); Solar Plexus (yellow); Throat (blue).
Historical Associations: empathy; long life; longevity; strength (mental, physical); fidelity; faithfulness; loyalty; friendship; joy; splendor; beauty; truth; empathy; forgiveness; good fortune; intelligence; protection; wisdom; serenity; healing; divine power; warmth; break magic spells; dispel anger; strength; long life; beauty; intelligence; Ra; Jupiter; realize one’s own abilities; turn abstract ideas into concrete reality; soothe emotional pain; release long-held grudges. It was worn on the left arm to protect against enchantments and the Evil Eye in the Middle Ages.
Imperial Topaz: protection; warmth; royal family; joy; happiness; vitality.
Blue Topaz: relaxation; stress reduction; increased creativity; communication skills; good luck; fortune; creativity; spiritual growth; serenity and grace; brings friendship; brings romance; prevent anger; prevent instability.
Golden Topaz: wealth; good fortune; joy.
Historically Used to Treat: poison; anger; stress; eye infections; vision; depression; nightmares; a hot temper; gall bladder; liver; hemorrhaging.
Care: A sharp knock against a hard surface can cause the stone to split across its entire width due to its perfect cleavage. High heat and sudden temperature changes can cause internal breaks or fractures. Prolonged exposure to heat or sunlight may cause fading in some yellow-to-brown gemstones and alter the color. Generally light stable, but some brown stones fade. It may be slightly affected by some chemicals. Do not use steam or ultrasonic cleaners. Clean with a soft, dry cloth or warm soapy water and a soft brush. Store away from harder gemstones such as diamonds, sapphire, and rubies to prevent surface damage.
Mystic Topaz: only use warm soapy water. Avoid abrasive cleaners and buffing wheels. Warm water with mild soap and a very soft-bristled brush. Avoid using steam or ultrasonic cleaners. Avoid extreme heat and direct sunlight as this can cause the topaz to lose its color. Avoid wearing in a pool or salt water.
London Blue Topaz: clean with a soft, dry cloth or warm soapy water. Keep away from chemicals, heat, and light. Store in a cool, dry place.
Imitations: Glass; Synthetic sapphire; Synthetic spinel; Citrine.
Synthetics: No commercial synthetics.
TOURMALINE
Name: from Sinhalese “turmali” which means “mixed colored stones”.
AKA: Aschentrekker (ash-pullers; Dutch). Chameleon of Gems. Stone of Protection and Eloquence.
Description: It is a complex boron silicate. Tourmaline is a group of mineral species. Tourmaline gets its color from a variety of minerals and thus has a wide range of colors that occurs in various shades of almost every hue.
There are a number of trade names for its color varieties:
Rubellite is red in both daylight and incandescent light, however , some will call any strong colored pink to red tourmaline this. (pink, red, purplish red, orangey red, or brownish red).
Indicolite is shades of blue: dark violetish blue, blue, and greenish blue.
Paraiba Tourmaline is the rarest and most expensive tourmaline it has an intense violetish blue, greenish blue, or blue coloring and comes from the state of Paraiba, Brazil.
Verdelite is a trade name for tourmaline in shades of green.
Chrome Tourmaline has an intense green; much of which comes from vanadium.
Parti-colored, or bi-colored, Tourmaline is a tourmaline with more than one color; with green and pink being the most common.
Schorl is the mineralogical name for black tourmaline.
Watermelon Tourmaline is pink in the center and green around the outside.
Cat’s-eye Tourmaline is most often green, blue, or pink, with an eye that’s softer and more diffused than the eye in fine cat’s-eye chrysoberyl; must be cut as cabochon to bring out effect.
Chemical Composition: AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
Color: It gets its color from a variety of minerals depending upon the color of the tourmaline. Green tourmaline gets its color from chromium. Tourmaline has a color range which includes colorless, blues, black, pinks, reds, oranges, yellows, greens, browns, violet, purples, bi- or multi-colored, and color change. Today, the most sought-after color of Tourmaline is pink, specifically a vivid magenta color.
Treatments:
Heat lightens very dark green or blue-green stones; converts brownish purple stones to “rose” pink; produces bright greenish blue to yellowish green stones from grayish Paraiba material. Stable. Common. Undetectable.
Irradiation produces deep pink, red, or purple from very light pink, green, blue, or colorless material; converts some light yellow or green material to a darker yellow or orange; turns some green stones into red and green parti-colored. Fair to good stability. Color may fade under high heart or very prolonged exposure to bright light. Common for pink, red, and purple. Occasional for yellow, orange, and parti-colored. Undetectable.
Acid improves the appearance of cat’s-eye stones. Stable. Occasional. Undetectable.
Sealing tubes in cat’s-eye material with plastic or epoxy resin prevents dirt from getting into the tubes that cause the cat’s-eye effect. Fair stability. Heat and solvents can damage or destroy the sealant. Occasional. Detectable by a trained gemologist or gemological laboratory.
Fracture Filling.
Moh’s Hardness: 7 to 7.5.
Toughness: Fair. (While hard, it can be brittle. Heavily include varieties such as Rubellite are more prone to fracturing than cleaner green or blue varieties.)
Location Found: Afghanistan; East Africa; Brazil (Minas Gerais); Kenya; Madagascar; Mozambique; Myanmar (Burma); Namibia; Nigeria; Pakistan; Russia; Sri Lanka; United States of America (California, Maine, New Hampshire).
Birthstone: October (pink).
Wedding Anniversaries: 8th.
Zodiac Signs: Leo; Libra. Scorpio.
Chakra Associations: Crown (colorless, purple); Heart (green, pink, red); Root (black, red); Third Eye (blue, purple); Throat (blue); Sacral (orange, red); Solar Plexus (yellow, orange).
Historical Associations: empathy; repel negative energy; compassion; self-love; unlock the inner muse; feel safe and secure in one’s physical body; grounding; inspire creativity; foster empathy; attracting; protection; love; connection; relaxation; passion; emotional healing; growth; protection; healing; happiness; joy; kindness; communication.
Black Tourmaline: protection; shielding; grounding.
Blue Tourmaline: calming; cooling; communication; relaxation.
Pink Tourmaline: love; compassion; kindness; happiness; joy; relaxation; emotional healing; passion.
Green Tourmaline: healing; love; growth.
Watermelon Tourmaline: love; growth; healing; happiness.
Historically Used to Treat: overactive nerves; coordination; balance issues; lymphatic system; purge impurities; concentration; mental blockages; stomach; chronic digestive discomfort.
Care: High heat can alter color. Sudden temperature change and extreme temperatures can cause fracturing. Generally light stable. Steam and ultrasonic cleaning are risky and can cause the stone to shatter. Resistant to most acids, but avoid harsh household cleaners. Avoid abrasive materials. Warm, soapy water and a soft brush are safe. Store it in its own compartment, pouch, or box to keep it safe from other jewelry that can scratch or damage the tourmaline. Do not store in direct sunlight or extreme temperatures.
Imitations: Glass; Synthetic ruby; Synthetic sapphire; Synthetic spinel.
Synthetics: No commercial synthetics.
TURQUOISE
Name: comes from the French expression “pierre tourques,” or “Turkish stone,” and originated in the 13th century. Ancient Egyptians called turquoise “mefkat” meaning “joy” and “delight”.
Description: can be translucent to opaque, with a color that usually ranges from light to medium blue or greenish blue; often mottled and sometimes has dark splotches; it might also have veins of matrix running through it. Spiderweb Turquoise, fine seams of matrix form attractive web-like patterns. The most valuable turquoise is an even medium blue, with no matrix, and the ability to take a good polish.
Color: Turquoise gets its color from copper, aluminum, zinc, and iron and has a color range in shades of blue to green. It can also be mottled and sometimes dark splotches. The presence of iron gives it a greenish hue whereas zinc causes more of a yellowish hue. Its color can change over time due to body oils and the other moisture absorbed into the tone. Today, the most sought-after color of Turquoise is Robin’s Egg Blue, Sky Blue, or Persian Blue.
Treatments:
Impregnation/Stabilization with wax or plastic (sometimes with dye added) improves the color and luster of pale material; plastic also improves durability. Excellent to fair stability. Plastic is stable under normal conditions, but wax may gradually deteriorate and discolor. Common.
Painting matrix with black shoe polish or similar colorant makes the matrix a desirable color. Stability is fair. Solvents can damage or destroy the treatment. Common.
Backing w/ epoxy resin adds thickness, strength, and weight to pieces otherwise too thin to cut. Stability is good under normal conditions. Heat or solvents can damage or destroy the epoxy backing. Common.
Filling cavities with metal-loaded epoxy hides cavities and imitates pyrite inclusions. Stability is fair. Heat or solvents can damage or destroy the fillings, and they may eventually separate even under normal conditions. Occasional.
Moh’s Hardness: 5 to 6.
Toughness: generally fair to good.
Location Found: Afghanistan; Australia; China; Iran; Kazakhstan; Mexico; Middle East; Tibet; USA (Arizona, Nevada). Ancient Egyptians mined turquoise in the Sinai region around 5500 BCE.
Birthstone: December.
Wedding Anniversaries: 11th.
Zodiac Signs: Sagittarius.
Chakra Associations: Throat. Solar Plexus. Crown. Heart.
Historical Associations: rain; life; good luck; health; healing; wellness; good fortune; friendship; protection from evil; increased a hunter’s or warrior’s accuracy with their bows, swords, and firearms; self-acceptance; face obstacles; get rid of pain; meditation; peace; peace of mind; aware; honoring; evolving; reconnecting with the land; integrating ancestral wisdom; appreciation; wholeness; communication; spiritual expansion; increase in wealth; compassion; serenity; sky; protection; unclutter the mind; good luck; fertility; vegetation; joy; delight; getting rid of bad habis; seeing one’s life from a higher perspective; protection from evil spirits; protect children from falling; Earth; a sky-earth connection; Sky God; Creator; Hathor; Estsantlehi.
Historically Used to Treat: heart; throat; depression; panic attacks; stress; physical exhaustion; stomach issues; bronchial infections; melancholy; overall wellbeing; bad habits.
Care: Avoid high heat, oils, grease, perfume, chemicals as this can cause discoloration and surface damage. Dissolves slowly in hydrochloric acid. Avoid extreme temperature changes. Avoid steam and ultrasonic cleaners. Use warm soapy water and a very soft cloth to clean and immediately dry with a soft cloth. Store in a cool, stable, dry place apart from other jewelry when possible.
Imitations: Glass; Plastic; “Reconstructed Turquoise” (usually made of various powdered minerals that are dyed and bonded with plastic, epoxy resin, or similar substances that is not turquoise).
Synthetics: produced on a limited basis in the 1980s, but it was never widely available in the market. A trained gemologist or gemological laboratory can identify the material.
Description: can be translucent to opaque, with a color that usually ranges from light to medium blue or greenish blue; often mottled and sometimes has dark splotches; it might also have veins of matrix running through it. Spiderweb Turquoise, fine seams of matrix form attractive web-like patterns. The most valuable turquoise is an even medium blue, with no matrix, and the ability to take a good polish.
Color: Turquoise gets its color from copper, aluminum, zinc, and iron and has a color range in shades of blue to green. It can also be mottled and sometimes dark splotches. The presence of iron gives it a greenish hue whereas zinc causes more of a yellowish hue. Its color can change over time due to body oils and the other moisture absorbed into the tone. Today, the most sought-after color of Turquoise is Robin’s Egg Blue, Sky Blue, or Persian Blue.
Treatments:
Impregnation/Stabilization with wax or plastic (sometimes with dye added) improves the color and luster of pale material; plastic also improves durability. Excellent to fair stability. Plastic is stable under normal conditions, but wax may gradually deteriorate and discolor. Common.
Painting matrix with black shoe polish or similar colorant makes the matrix a desirable color. Stability is fair. Solvents can damage or destroy the treatment. Common.
Backing w/ epoxy resin adds thickness, strength, and weight to pieces otherwise too thin to cut. Stability is good under normal conditions. Heat or solvents can damage or destroy the epoxy backing. Common.
Filling cavities with metal-loaded epoxy hides cavities and imitates pyrite inclusions. Stability is fair. Heat or solvents can damage or destroy the fillings, and they may eventually separate even under normal conditions. Occasional.
Moh’s Hardness: 5 to 6.
Toughness: generally fair to good.
Location Found: Afghanistan; Australia; China; Iran; Kazakhstan; Mexico; Middle East; Tibet; USA (Arizona, Nevada). Ancient Egyptians mined turquoise in the Sinai region around 5500 BCE.
Birthstone: December.
Wedding Anniversaries: 11th.
Zodiac Signs: Sagittarius.
Chakra Associations: Throat. Solar Plexus. Crown. Heart.
Historical Associations: rain; life; good luck; health; healing; wellness; good fortune; friendship; protection from evil; increased a hunter’s or warrior’s accuracy with their bows, swords, and firearms; self-acceptance; face obstacles; get rid of pain; meditation; peace; peace of mind; aware; honoring; evolving; reconnecting with the land; integrating ancestral wisdom; appreciation; wholeness; communication; spiritual expansion; increase in wealth; compassion; serenity; sky; protection; unclutter the mind; good luck; fertility; vegetation; joy; delight; getting rid of bad habis; seeing one’s life from a higher perspective; protection from evil spirits; protect children from falling; Earth; a sky-earth connection; Sky God; Creator; Hathor; Estsantlehi.
Historically Used to Treat: heart; throat; depression; panic attacks; stress; physical exhaustion; stomach issues; bronchial infections; melancholy; overall wellbeing; bad habits.
Care: Avoid high heat, oils, grease, perfume, chemicals as this can cause discoloration and surface damage. Dissolves slowly in hydrochloric acid. Avoid extreme temperature changes. Avoid steam and ultrasonic cleaners. Use warm soapy water and a very soft cloth to clean and immediately dry with a soft cloth. Store in a cool, stable, dry place apart from other jewelry when possible.
Imitations: Glass; Plastic; “Reconstructed Turquoise” (usually made of various powdered minerals that are dyed and bonded with plastic, epoxy resin, or similar substances that is not turquoise).
Synthetics: produced on a limited basis in the 1980s, but it was never widely available in the market. A trained gemologist or gemological laboratory can identify the material.