Zoisite occurs in several forms from the stunning blue/violet tanzanite to the mottled pink thulite.
A fragile stone which is rarely cut as a gemstone, except for collectors, but it occurs within other gems.
From the Greek "epidose" (increase) because one side of the crystal is always longer than the other.
It is formed when certain types of feldspar are altered by contact metamorphosis with hot liquids, found in association with vesuviante and garnets, it sometimes forms in granite seams.
Epidote often forms rutile crystals within other minerals, the massive rock form is unakite.