Judging quality
Look for strong color contrast: bright green matrix with distinct hexagonal ruby crystals rather than muddy pink smears.
Zoisite
Zoisite (Ruby in Zoisite)
Green zoisite studded with red ruby crystals and black hornblende, sometimes called anyolite. Bold, opaque and excellent for large carvings.
Care
Durable enough for handling. Soap and water.
History & lore
The green zoisite of Longido, Tanzania has been quarried for carving since the 1950s.
Cultural history, recorded as tradition rather than as medical or scientific claim.
Common questions about Zoisite (Ruby in Zoisite)
- What is Zoisite (Ruby in Zoisite)?
- Green zoisite studded with red ruby crystals and black hornblende, sometimes called anyolite. Bold, opaque and excellent for large carvings.
- How hard is Zoisite (Ruby in Zoisite) and what is it made of?
- Zoisite (Ruby in Zoisite) is a Zoisite-family mineral with the composition Ca2Al3(SiO4)3(OH). It crystallizes in the orthorhombic system and rates 6-7 on the Mohs hardness scale. It occurs in green, pink, black.
- Where does Zoisite (Ruby in Zoisite) come from?
- Notable localities for Zoisite (Ruby in Zoisite) include Tanzania, Kenya, Austria.
- How do you tell good Zoisite (Ruby in Zoisite) from filler?
- Look for strong color contrast: bright green matrix with distinct hexagonal ruby crystals rather than muddy pink smears.
- How do you care for Zoisite (Ruby in Zoisite)?
- Durable enough for handling. Soap and water.
See it in person
Photographs only go so far
Both rooms are open six days a week, and there is always someone happy to pull pieces out of the case so you can compare them under the light.