A pretty basic question, but one that is worth asking. Definition: Tanzanite is the crystalline form of the mineral zoisite. Considered a "rare" gemstone, the zoisite crystals form in the presence of vanadium, which is a soft, grayish-silvery metal. Tanzanite is found in only one place in the entire world, Tanzania, near Mt. Kilimanjaro. Tanzanite is customarily heat treated to drive off impurities and produce the beautiful purplish-blue color for which tanzanite is known.

Actually, it isn't. The National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD) states that "a rare disease is one which affects fewer than 200,000 people in the US." There are less than 5000 rare disorders. Among the rare disorders you may have heard of are: ulcerative colitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and multiple sclerosis. See similar questions...

Tanzanite has been added to the list as one of the top-selling colored gemstones of all time. The U.S. buys approximately 70% of all tanzanite that is mined. Because of its outrageous popularity, tanzanite was added to the December birthstone list in 2004. Due to the fact that tanzanite is approximately one-fourth to one-third the cost of a similarly colored sapphire, it should continue its popularity for many years to come. See similar questions...

Around 50 million people in the world have epilepsy, or about 1% of the population. It is the most common serious neurological condition. See similar questions...

Its very rarity makes this question hard to answer. One study (Rosenberg 1985) of 1,500 muscle biopsy specimens found TAs in 1.0%. Another study (Niakan 1985) of 3,000 muscle biopsies detected TAs in 0.6%. These specimens were from folk with suspected muscle disease so they were already a small minority of the general population and of course not all of those with TAs have TAM. A study of children under the age of 15 in western Sweden disclosed only 1 child with TAM in a 15 year period. See similar questions...

Any time is a good time to purchase tanzanite. Some may consider its investment potential while others simply desire it for its good looks. We generally see price increases each fall due to short-term demands of the holiday shopping season. See similar questions...

Absolutely, no questions asked. Other than items that are marked for final sale and specifically described as non-returnable within the item listing, if, for any reason, you would like to return a purchase you have made, simply email us for return authorization. Our staff will provide you with a return number that we will match up once your return is received. You have a full 3 days from the date you receive your order to review it, as well as to get a professional 2nd opinion. See similar questions...

No, it is the same strain seen in an outbreak in England. The current MMR vaccine covers this strain. No. There is no correlation to disease and vaccination at 12 months of age. Infants used to be routinely vaccinated at 15 months of age. During the 1989-1991 measles resurgence, incidence rates of measles were more than twice as high as those in other age groups. See similar questions...

Developing a cure and treatment for Canavan disease has the potential to help millions of people young and old. Although rare, Canavan disease is considered by many leading researchers to be the 'perfect model' for approaching therapeutic methods to truly aid in the treatment and cure of many of the neurodegenerative diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's, ALS, Alzheimer's, and stroke as well as other childhood genetic illnesses. See similar questions...

It is worth having. And that's all you're going to get out of me. If you want to know how much money you can squeeze out of it, ask an investment counselor. See similar questions...

Jack explains in the interview he did for the extra bonus features on the Poor Specimen DVD of Taylor Steele's film "Loose Change" ... Mainly from Rob Machado, Dan Malloy, and Timmy Curren. They're my main copy makers of music. Actually, Jason Weatherly as well. Makes a lot of copies, and burns it, and just passes it out to everybody. See similar questions...

Hormonal factors may contribute to acne. These factors should be assessed and, if necessary, treated as part of a successful acne treatment regime. See similar questions...

Transits of Venus have a strange pattern of frequency. A transit will not have happened for about 121 ? years (prior to 2004, the last one was 1882). Then there will be one transit (such as the one in 2004) followed by another transit of Venus eight years later (in the year 2012). Then there will be a span of about 105 ? years before the next pair of transits occur, again separated by eight years. Then the pattern repeats (121 ? , 8, 105 ? , 8). See similar questions...

Many different factors may make a book rare including importance, scarcity, and desirability. Age alone does not make a book rare and rare books are not necessarily valuable. See similar questions...

No. Prices depend on the condition of the book, its availability, and demand. Some "rare" books may retail for just a few dollars, while others are worth thousands. See similar questions...

Old cobblestones are fast becoming a lost part of our past. Most of the streets in New England that were once paved in cobblestones have been taken up or paved over with asphalt or concrete. See similar questions...

Yes, Cars that had limited production numbers in real life will reflect how often a car is spawned at a car dealership. So if you are looking for that rare Superbird or Yenko you had better keep a constant look out at the local car dealerships. See similar questions...