Gemstones Beginning with "T"

Tanzanite is a form of zoisite that was renamed tanzanite by the renowned jewelry store Tiffany & Co. It is named after Tanzania, where the stone was first discovered in 1967. Good quality tanzanite is ultramarine to sapphire blue. In artificial light it appears more amethyst to violet in color. Most stones are heat treated to deepen the color and remove unattractive tints of yellow and brown. Deposits were originally found in Tanzania only, but deposits can now be found in Kenya as well. Tanzanite is said to be "the workaholic's stone," because it is believed to help the wearer slow down and take it easy. It is also said to awaken the mind and heart, placing the mind's genius under the command of the heart's wisdom; to enhance psychic abilities, composure, poise and harmony; and to help ease stress-related illnesses, particularly high blood pressure. Mohs' hardness: 6-1/2 to 7.

Tiger Iron is a natural mixture of hematite, red jasper and tiger's eye. More than two billion years ago, deposits of these three materials were slowly mashed together as tectonic plates shifted. The tremendous pressures on the original crystals resulted in the intricate, banded designs of tiger iron. Each stone can be seen distinctly in layers of gold, silver, brown and red, drawing unique vertical and horizontal patterns. While the stone is many millennia old, it only recently has become known on the market. Deposits can be found in Australia, England, Mexico, Brazil and the Lake Superior region of the United States. See Hematite, Red Jasper, Jasper and Tiger's Eye for more information.

Tiger's Eye is a member of the quartz species in which fibers of the mineral crocidolite are laid down in parallel bands within the quartz structure. The result is striping of gold to yellow-brown, with a shimmering effect, like that of a cat's eye. Yellow tiger's eye is the most common variety, but there is also a blue-gray to blue-green variety called hawk's eye. Heat treatment results in the variety known as red tiger's eye. Deposits can be found in South Africa, Australia, Burma, India, Namibia and California. Tiger's Eye is said to clear mental blocks and encourage focus on current issues; to support a healthy metabolism and prevent physical energy from becoming depleted; and to keep the eyes healthy and increase clear vision. Mohs' hardness: 6-1/2 to 7.

Topaz is a transparent to translucent gemstone that is most commonly yellow with a red tint, although it is found in a variety of other colors, including colorless, red-brown, light to dark blue, pink-red, violet and light green. Most blue topaz sold today is irradiated and heat treated colorless topaz. Deposits can be found in Brazil, Afghanistan, Australia, Burma, China, Japan, Madagascar, Mexico, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and the United States. Light blue topaz deposits can also be found in Northern Ireland, Scotland and England. Topaz is said to clarify intent linked to higher purpose, helping to pursue one's true path, and to clear the head and to improve concentration. Mohs' hardness: 8.

Tourmalinated Quartz is a clear or snow quartz with inclusions of black tourmaline in either strands or lumps. The best deposits can be found in Brazil. See Quartz, Rock Crystal and Snow Quartz for more information.

Tourmaline is the name given to a large group of closely related minerals that appear in different colors, ranging from colorless, pink, red, yellow and brown to green, blue, violet, black and multicolored. Pink, green and black are the most common colors. Some of the varieties include Achroite (colorless and rare), Dravite (yellow-brown to dark brown), Indicolite (all blue shades), Rubellite (pink to red, sometimes with a violet tint), Schorl (black), Siberite (lilac to violet blue) and Verdelite (all green shades). Recently, however, instead of using variety names, color names are simply added to the word tourmaline, such as pink tourmaline or blue tourmaline. Another variety, called watermelon tourmaline, has a green outer band with a pink center, which looks very similar to the colors inside a watermelon. Deposits can be found in Brazil, Afghanistan, Australia, Burma, India, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Zaire, California and Maine. Tourmaline is said to soothe the heart and ease anxiety and fraught emotions; to connect with the inner child in adults; and to reduce stress and help balance an irregular heartbeat. Mohs' hardness: 7 to 7-1/2.

Tsavorite is a green to emerald green variety of grossular garnet that was discovered in the early 1970s. Deposits can be found in Kenya and Tanzania. See Garnet for more information.

Turquoise is a sky blue to blue-green opaque stone, often interspersed with brown, dark gray or black veins, referred to as matrix. The name comes from the French pierre turquoise, which means Turkish stone, because the trade route that brought it to Europe went via Turkey. The color of the stone varies depending on the surrounding soil makeup, so the name often includes reference to the name of the country, state or mine where it was found. For example, Sleeping Beauty turquoise is found in the Sleeping Beauty Mine in Globe, Arizona, which produces a light, bright blue stone with very little matrix; Chinese turquoise is mined in areas such as the Hubei and Anhui provinces of China; Iranian or Persian turquoise has a deep blue-green color; and Mediterranean turquoise tends to be more green. High-grade natural turquoise is known as "gem quality," and is the hardest grade taking the best polish. Most turquoise on the market is stabilized by soaking it in resin, oil or wax to harden the stone, because it is very porous, and many stones are also dyed to enhance the color. There are many imitations, including "chalk turquoise," which is usually dyed magnesite or dolomite; African turquoise is actually a jasper found in Africa that has a color and matrix structure similar to turquoise; and howlite is often dyed to resemble turquoise. Natural turquoise deposits can be found in Iran, Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Israel, Mexico, Tanzania and the United States. Turquoise is said to provide personal protection; to enable communication from the highest source of love; to ease feelings of negativity and low self-esteem; and to boost immunity. Mohs' hardness 5 to 6.

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