This rare mineral comes in a wide varieties of colors, including several prized gemstones. The most famous of these is Tanzanite, a blue-purple variety of zoisite that is mined in Tanzania and is extremely sought after (though only mined since the 1960s, it is quite popular and sometimes considered the birthstone for December). Anyolite and Thulite, which are striking shades of green and pink, respectively, are also zoisite varieties.
