Overview
Tanzanite is one of the world’s rarest gemstones and mined only in Tanzania – hence its name! Tanzanite is the violet blue to blue violet variety of the mineral zoisite. It is mined commercially only in one area of the world: the Merelani Hills of Tanzania, at the foothills of Kilimanjaro. Tanzanite is a trade name that was first used by Tiffany & Co for gem-quality specimens of the mineral Zoisite. But because it might be pronounced “suicide” they renamed it – it certainly wouldn’t sell well otherwise.
If you are interested to know more about this blue/ violet stone, a visit to the Tanzanite museum in Arusha is an activity for you. Learn all about the history of this mineral, how it was discovered and mined. See for yourself how each expensive gem is graded and cut and if you like you can even buy one of these rare gems.
Gem Story
The Blue gemstone origins
The world’s only source of this alluring stone is located on one very small patch of land at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. Tanzania, a country rich in folklore, boasts an ancient story in which the local Maasai saw a bolt of lightning come down from the sky and strike the ground turning all the rocks to a shimmering blue – Tanzanite.
Mining Process
A Journey Inside Mererani
Tanzanite is commercially mined in only one small area in the Mererani (or Merelani) Hills in Northern Tanzania, at the foothills of Mt Kilimanjaro. Originally, Tanzanite could easily be collected on the surface, but this scavenger mining quickly gave way to pits and now tunnels, some of which extend hundreds of meters beneath the surface.
Cutting & Polishing
Professional care
It takes years of training to cut Tanzanite to the point that it can be certified as an ‘excellent cut’, where the stone reflects maximum brilliance. Due to its ability to show either blue or violet from different angles, the cutting process plays a crucial role in displaying the true colors of the gemstone. The cutting direction determines the gem’s overall face-up colour.
Grading
Tanzanite Grading System
Once the stone is cut and polished, it has to be graded in a laboratory to determine its quality. The Tanzanite Experience Museum is also home to the Tanzanite Laboratory where all the gemstones are expertly assessed before being made available for purchase.
