Thulite cabochons

Thulite cabochons for jewellery making

Not an especially common stone in the jewellery making field - these are cabochons cut from pink Thulite.

Thulite is a pink form of Zoisite which takes its colour from Manganese and primarily occurs in Norway, although there are smaller outcroppings in the USA, Europe, Africa and Australia.

Thulite is not the absolute ideal for jewellery due to its hardness, only 6-7 on the Mohs scale; however, this is comparable with Quartz and it will hold up reasonably well. Earrings and pendants are a better choice than rings, though, due to wear. I personally think the pink is similar to some Rhodonite and some of the lower grade red/pink Tourmaline in Quartz specimens that come from Brazil and are rarely cut en cabochon.