Ruby in Zoisite
green zoisite with corundum (ruby) and hornblende
Ruby crystals grown inside green zoisite, found in 1949 in the Longido district of Tanzania and named anyolite from the Maasai word for green. The ruby is real corundum but almost always too included and opaque to facet, so it stays in the rock. People carry it for courage, love and transformation.
Seen · you don't have this one yet
Mineral facts
Hardness
6-9 Mohs
Formula
Ca2Al3(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH) + Al2O3:Cr
Family
rock (aggregate)
Where it comes from
Tanzania (Longido, Arusha Region), principal source, India (minor)
What it is
Ruby crystals grown inside green zoisite, found in 1949 in the Longido district of Tanzania and named anyolite from the Maasai word for green. The ruby is real corundum but almost always too included and opaque to facet, so it stays in the rock. A rare case where the matrix is the point.
What it is confused with
ruby-in-fuchsite, unakite, eudialyte, dyed-quartzite, thulite
Bright chrome-green zoisite groundmass containing opaque pink-to-raspberry ruby crystals, and the rubies frequently show hexagonal outlines, which is the giveaway, since corundum crystallises in six-sided prisms. Black patches of hornblende are scattered through. The three-colour combination of chrome green, opaque pink and black is distinctive. Because the ruby is 9 and the zoisite 6, a polished surface often shows the ruby standing slightly proud of the softer green.
How to tell
Hexagonal pink crystal outlines in a bright green matrix. Ruby-in-fuchsite is a green mica rock and is much softer and flakier, with a micaceous glitter the zoisite lacks. Unakite is salmon-pink and pistachio with a granular igneous texture and no hexagons.
Generally untreated. Dyed quartzite and glass composites are occasionally sold as anyolite and lack hexagonal ruby outlines.
What it means for you
The Moon is at 1° Scorpio today. Ruby in Zoisite is a rock (aggregate), 6-9 on the Mohs scale, and it is the stone traditionally carried when the problem is proximity rather than intensity.
You know what this one would do for you. You just don't have it.
Ruby in Zoisite for every sign
Aries
The matrix wears away first while the hexagons stay proud.
Ruby crystals grown inside green zoisite, found at Longido in Tanzania in 1949 and named anyolite from the Maasai word for green. The ruby is corundum at Mohs 9 and the zoisite around it is 6. The matrix wears away first while the hexagons stay proud.
Taurus
A rare case where the matrix is the point.
Anyolite, from the Maasai word for green, found at Longido in Tanzania in 1949. The ruby inside is real corundum but almost always too included to facet, so it stays in the rock where it grew. A rare case where the matrix is the point.
Gemini
One rock, two hardnesses, and one of them wins.
One rock, two hardnesses: the ruby is 9 and the zoisite around it is 6, so a polished face wears unevenly and the ruby ends up standing slightly proud. Look for hexagonal outlines on the pink, because corundum crystallises six-sided. The name anyolite comes from the Maasai word for green.
Cancer
The rare case where the matrix is the point.
Anyolite, from the Maasai word for green. The pink crystals are real corundum but almost always too included to facet, so they never leave the rock they grew in. It is the rare case where the matrix is the point rather than the thing chipped away.
Leo
A rare case where the matrix is the point.
Anyolite, from the Maasai word for green, found at Longido in 1949. The rubies are genuine corundum but too included to facet, so they stay in the green zoisite where they grew, and their hexagonal outlines are the giveaway. A rare case where the matrix is the point.
Virgo
The ruby stands slightly proud of the softer green.
The rubies show hexagonal outlines, because corundum crystallises in six-sided prisms, and that is the fastest confirmation the pink is real. Ruby is 9 and zoisite is 6, so on a polished face the ruby stands slightly proud of the green. Named anyolite, from the Maasai word for green.
Libra
The harder stone stands proud of the softer one.
Corundum at Mohs 9 sitting inside zoisite at Mohs 6, so on a polished face the ruby stands slightly proud of the green around it. The pink patches often show hexagonal outlines, which is how you know they are real corundum. Found at Longido in Tanzania in 1949 and named anyolite.
Scorpio
The ruby stands proud because it is harder than the rock.
Ruby crystals grown inside green zoisite, found in 1949 in the Longido district and named anyolite from the Maasai word for green. The corundum is real and almost always too included to facet, so it never leaves the rock. Polished, the ruby stands proud because it is three points harder.
Sagittarius
Look for hexagonal pink outlines.
Ruby crystals grown inside green zoisite, found in 1949 in the Longido district of Tanzania and named anyolite from the Maasai word for green. The ruby is real corundum and almost always too included to facet, so it stays in the rock. Look for hexagonal pink outlines.
Capricorn
The red stands slightly proud of the green.
Ruby crystals grown inside green zoisite, found at Longido in 1949 and named anyolite from the Maasai word for green. The ruby sits at Mohs 9 and the zoisite at 6, so on a polished face the red stands slightly proud of the green. The rubies are too included to facet and stay where they are.
Aquarius
Hardness runs from 6 to 9 across a single piece.
The pink patches are real corundum and often show hexagonal outlines, which is the giveaway. They are too included to facet, so they stay in the rock and the matrix becomes the point. Hardness runs from 6 to 9 across a single piece, so it wears unevenly forever.
Pisces
Too clouded to facet, so it never leaves the rock.
Ruby crystals grown inside green zoisite, found in 1949 at Longido in Tanzania and named anyolite from the Maasai word for green. The corundum is real but too clouded to facet, so it never leaves the rock. Softer zoisite scratches while the ruby does not, so the surface wears unevenly.
Correspondences
What tradition attaches to this stone. Folklore, not chemistry.
Element
fire
Planet
Sun
Chakra
heart, root
Signs
aries, leo, cancer
What tradition says
In crystal lore, ruby in zoisite is associated with vitality returning after depletion and with the heart and root working together; the pairing of red and green is read as passion grounded in growth.
Care
- Water is fine. Dry it afterwards.
- Mixed hardness means uneven wear — the softer zoisite scratches while the ruby does not. Warm water and a soft cloth; avoid abrasives.
Common questions
What does ruby in zoisite mean?
Ruby in Zoisite is carried for courage, love and transformation. Ruby crystals grown inside green zoisite, found in 1949 in the Longido district of Tanzania and named anyolite from the Maasai word for green.. Tradition links it to the heart, root chakra.
Is ruby in zoisite real or fake?
Ruby in Zoisite is not faked often, but it is still worth checking. Hexagonal pink crystal outlines in a bright green matrix. Ruby-in-fuchsite is a green mica rock and is much softer and flakier, with a micaceous glitter the zoisite lacks.. Generally untreated.
Can ruby in zoisite go in water?
A short rinse is fine for ruby in zoisite, then dry it.
Uncommon · chrome green with opaque pink-red patches and black flecks
Where this leads
This stone belongs to
FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND REFLECTION. NOT MEDICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, FINANCIAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. How this works