FREE: Natural Red Ruby Zoisite Nugget Beads

The listing, Natural Red Ruby Zoisite Nugget Beads has ended.

First 2 pictures are mine, others are stock. Auction is for 20 beads

Ruby-Zoisite, also known as anyolite, is the natural combination of ruby and zoisite crystals in a single specimen. Zoisite, the same mineral as tanzanite, provides an earthy green color while ruby lends pink and red highlights. Ruby-zoisite is usually shaped as cabochons or carved into decorative objects.

Ruby-Zoisite was first discovered in 1954 in Tanzania. The name anyolite derives from the word for "green" in the native language of the Masai tribe.

Ruby-Zoisite has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, and is thus of moderate hardness.

Ruby-Zoisite colors
The green zoisite rock carries black hornblende inclusions and large, but mostly opaque, ruby. Cut and polished ruby-zoisite specimens vary by color, according to the presence of ruby. Most specimens will display three colors -- green, black and red.

Ruby-Zoisite gemology
Species: Zoisite
Color: Green with black and opaque ruby inclusions
Chemical composition: Ca2Al3(Sio4)3(OH) calcium aluminum silicate
Crystal system: Orthorhombic, multifaced prisms, mostly striated
Hardness: 6.5-7 (Mohs scale)
Specific gravity: 3.35
Refractive index: 1.691 - 1.700
Birefringence: +0.009
Color of streak: White,
Fluorescence: None

The Ruby-Zoisite zodiac, myth & legend
As a lesser-known and relatively new gemstone, ruby-zoisite produces a blank page in the books of myth, history, wisdom, the zodiac scheme or the relation between planets and mankind.

http://www.gemselect.com/gem-info/ruby-zoisite/ruby-zoisite-info.php