December Birthstones - Blue Topaz, Tanzanite & Turquoise

Decembers Birthstones Blue Topaz, Tanzanite, & Turquoise

Birthstone: Blue Topaz
Moh's hardness: 8
Specific Gravity: 3.57
Color: Blue
Chemical Composition: Al2,Si04,(F0H)2,fluor containing aluminum silicate

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Blue Topaz is derived from the Sanskirt word "tapas" meaning fire. Blue Topaz is the hardest of the silicate minerals. While pure Topaz is colorless, the blue hue is created when Topaz is heated, whether the heat source is natural or engineered by man. The three shades of Blue Topaz are Sky, Swiss, and London Blue. The latter is the deepest blue and often used as a less expensive substitute for Sapphire.

Topaz is found primarily in Brazil, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Pakistan, China, and the United States.

A gift of Blue Topaz is symbolic of love and fidelity. Luckily, this cool blue gemstone has no legendary power to put out the burning flame of love.

Birthstone: Tanzanite
Moh's hardness: 61/2-7
Specific Gravity: 3.35
Color: Sapphire Blue, Amethyst, Violet
Chemical Composition: Ca2,Al3,Si04,30H, calcium aluminum silicate
Refractive Index: 1.691-1.700

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Tanzanite was first found in the late 1960's at what remains the sole source, a hilly area called Merelani in Tanzania. So unlike many other gemstones, it does not carry a mystical ancient history. The name was changed from "blue zoisite" to Tanzanite by Tiffany & Company. This gemstone was introduced in the world market in the year 1969.

The Tanzanite gemstone shows a trichroic effect that is a 3 color visibility when viewed from different angles. The three color effects are blue, purple, and bronze. Legend has it that, the first pieces of Tanzanite was collected by the Masai herders when they noticed lightning strike some brownish ziosite crystals. The lightning is supposed to have changed the crystal to a beautiful blue color.

Tanzanite is almost always heat treated. The natural color of Tanzanite is brownish and this is how most rough Tanzanite appears. Heating of Tanzanite results in color change that ranges from Blue to Purple. Color enhancement using heat treatment is a widely accepted treatment for the Tanzanite gemstone.

Birthstone: Turquoise
Moh's hardness: 5-6
Specific Gravity: 2.84
Color: Sky-blue, blue-green, apple-green
Chemical Composition: CuAl6, P04,40h 8 4H20; a copper containing basic aluminum phosphate
Refractive Index: 1.610-1.650

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Turquoise with its blue hue is among the oldest known gemstones. Turquoise was obtained from the Sinai Peninsula before the 4th millennium BC in one of the world’s first important hard rock mining operations. Turquoise started being used before 4000 BC. Turquoise was a important ornamental mineral for jewelry and other objects by ancient Egyptians. It graced the necks of Egyptian Pharaohs and adorned the ceremonial dress of early Native Americans.

The name Turquoise means "Turkish stone" because the trade route that brought it to Europe used to come via Turkey. Pure blue color is rare, mostly turquoise interspersed with brown, dark gray or black veins of other minerals or the host rock. Such stones are called turquoise matrix.

Turquoise is said to be a guard against all diseases. It assists in tissue regeneration, subtle body alignment & strengthening. Turquoise is also believed to bring the wearer happiness and good fortune.