Where is Ruby in Zoisite found?
Corundum in Zoisite
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Open the appRuby in Zoisite occurs in specific geological environments. Knowing where to look, and in what kind of rock, is the difference between going home empty-handed and finding a great specimen.
Where to find Ruby in Zoisite
Longido, Tanzania
The primary and most famous source of high-quality Ruby in Zoisite, discovered in 1956. Occurs in the Precambrian Mozambique Belt.
Kenya
Other occurrences have been reported in East Africa, sharing similar geological settings to Tanzania.
India
Some deposits of ruby-bearing zoisite have been found, though often differing slightly in appearance or composition.
Collecting tips
- Geological Context. Look for areas with known occurrences of metasomatized mafic or ultramafic rocks within regional metamorphic belts. Associated minerals might include plagioclase, hornblende, and other chromium-bearing minerals.
- Visual Identification. The unique color combination of green, red, and black is highly distinctive. Rubies will appear as opaque, often blocky, red crystals within the green zoisite matrix.
- Hardness Test. While the overall rock has variable hardness, the ruby component is very hard (9 on Mohs scale), which can be tested on a fresh surface if other minerals are scratched.
Quick Check
- Color:
- Green, red, and black combination
- Luster:
- Vitreous to pearly (zoisite), adamantine (ruby), vitreous to dull (amphibole)
- Streak:
- White (zoisite), white (ruby), greenish-white (amphibole)
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