Gem
Details
An
ornamental material consisting of crystalline aggregates of green zoisite
with non transparent ruby inclusions it is found in Tanzania and the
general appearance is unmistakable.
There
isn't another stone like it in the mineral world. The green zoisite
is relatively soft, between 5.5 - 6.5 while the ruby inclusions are
usually quite hard, 9 on the Mohs scale. This can make the stone
difficult to cut because of the differences in hardness and usually
diamond tools will be used.
Zoisite
has been known for nearly two centuries as an ornamental stone. The medium
grade red ruby material is usually spread irregularly throughout the green
zoisite. It is one of the most colorful of ornamental stones.
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