Skip to main content
tanzanite

tanzanite

9.9
A rare blue-violet gemstone from Tanzania used in jewelry
  • noun
  • /ˈtæn.zə.naɪt/
translation icon : tanzanita
  • The jeweler displayed a stunning tanzanite ring in the shop window.
  • tanzanite ring
  • tanzanite and diamond

Examples

  • At the gem show, I found a beautiful tanzanite ring that showcased its vibrant color and clarity.

  • She wore a stunning necklace featuring a deep blue-violet tanzanite surrounded by sparkling diamonds.

  • Collectors prize tanzanite for its unique blue-violet color and rarity.

  • She received a necklace with a sparkling tanzanite pendant for her birthday.

  • She wore a stunning tanzanite necklace to the gala.

  • The tanzanite ring sparkled beautifully in the sunlight.

  • The jeweler explained that the price of a tanzanite depends greatly on its size and color quality.

How Rare

tanzanite
9.9
diamond
489 1.4
ruby
79 4.3
amethyst
12 6.0
quartz
16 3.7

Surface Forms

tanzanite singular
tanzanites plural

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.