Thulite are rich pinkish strawberry gemstones from Norway and are named after the mythical Scandinavian island of Thule. Increasingly popular globally, Thulite is well-known in Norway where it is the country’s national gemstone.
Hardness 6.5 - 7
Refractive Index 1.69 - 1.70
Relative Density 3.10 - 3.38
Enhancement None
Beauty
Thulite showcases beautiful rich pinkish strawberries with subtle mottling, and a sparkly and silky luster. Thulite is cut as cabochons (cut in convex form and highly polished, but not faceted) to accentuate its signature color and mottling. Cut with an excellent finish, proportion and shape, Thulite displays striking colors and a superior luster.
Thulite, also known as Manganoan Zoisite and Rosaline, is the rare pink to reddish variety of Zoisite, whose most famous gemstone is the highly coveted Tanzanite. Anyolite is another scarce and notable Zoisite that consists of opaque apple-green Zoisite and Ruby. In 1805, Abraham Gottlob Werner described Zoisite naming it after Sigmund Zois Freiherr von Edelstein (1747 – 1819), a Carniolan (present-day Slovenia) geologist, mineralogist, natural scientist, and nobleman. Thulite was first discovered in Norway at Sauland, Telemark in 1820 and is named after the mythical Scandinavian island of Thule, mentioned in Greek legend, which many identify as Norway. Thulite is opaque and composed of dense crystals, ranging in color depending on the manganese content. It also often has black, gray or white mottling due to the presence of Calcite or Quartz. Clinothulite is the pink, manganese-rich variety of Clinozoisite, noting Zoisite and Clinozoisite are very similar, differing only in crystal structure.
Rarity
Originally discovered in the Telemark region of Norway, Thulite has also been found elsewhere in Norway (Aust-Agder, Oppland, Sogn og Fjordane, and Trøndelag) as well as other locales, including Austrian Tyrol, Namibia, North Carolina, and Western Australia. Despite these discoveries, Thulite in fine qualities remains extremely scarce, yet is becoming increasingly popular outside Norway. Our exceptional Thulite hails from Heddal in Telemark and is also one of the few gemstones that are entirely natural and unenhanced.
Durability & Care
A gemstone well-suited to everyday wear, Thulite (Mohs’ Hardness: 6.5 – 7) should always be stored carefully to avoid scuffs and scratches. Clean with gentle soap and lukewarm water, scrubbing behind the gem with a very soft toothbrush as necessary. After cleaning, pat dry with a soft towel or chamois cloth.
Map Location
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