Zoisite, is a calcium aluminium hydroxy sorosilicate belonging to the epidote group of minerals. At first zoisite was known as saualpite, named after its locality. Zoisite occurs in metamorphic and pegmatitic rocks in the form of prismatic orthorhombic crystals. It streaks white and is brittle.

Zoisite may be blue to violet, green, brown, pink, yellow, gray or even colorless. It has a vitreous luster. It is conchoidal to uneven fracture. Its hardness is greater than 6 in Moh’s scale of hardness. Transparent material is cut into gemstones and the translucent-to-opaque material is used for carving.

Anyolite consists of green zoisite with red ruby crystals. These rubies are not of gem quality, but they provide a lovely contrast to the green zoisite – enhancing the beauty of the decorative pieces carved from the rock.

The mineral was named it after the naturalist Sigmund Zois. Sources of zoisite include Tanzania, Kenya, Norway, Switzerland, Austria, India, Pakistan and Washington of USA.