tanzanite
- noun
- /ˈtæn.zə.naɪt/
- The jeweler displayed a stunning tanzanite ring in the shop window.
- tanzanite ring
- tanzanite and diamond
Examples
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At the gem show, I found a beautiful tanzanite ring that showcased its vibrant color and clarity.
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She wore a stunning necklace featuring a deep blue-violet tanzanite surrounded by sparkling diamonds.
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Collectors prize tanzanite for its unique blue-violet color and rarity.
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She received a necklace with a sparkling tanzanite pendant for her birthday.
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She wore a stunning tanzanite necklace to the gala.
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The tanzanite ring sparkled beautifully in the sunlight.
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The jeweler explained that the price of a tanzanite depends greatly on its size and color quality.
How Rare
Surface Forms
Morphology
tanzanite = Tanzania (semi-transparent) = tanzan + ite
Formed from the place-name Tanzania + the mineral-forming suffix -ite, which signals a mineral origin but does not by itself tell learners the word refers specifically to a blue‑violet gemstone.
Etymology
The word tanzanite comes from Tanzania, the country where the gemstone was first found, and the ending -ite is common in mineral names like graphite. Because it was discovered only there and is rare, tanzanite now means that special blue-violet gemstone.