There are several theories as to who discovered tanzanite first. The most popular and plausible is the one of Manuel de Souza. He was a prospector who was notified in 1967 by a Maasai tribesman about the discovery of a blue crystal near Mount Kilimanjaro. Initially thought to have found previously unknown sapphire deposits, he was later confirmed to have discovered a new gemstone, the tanzanite. However, other legends say that the gemstone was first discovered by the native Maasai Cattle Herders after a fire. They noticed an unusual blue stone amongst the ashes, as the heat turned the brown zoisite crystals into deep purple-blue gemstones and soon began mining it for its unique properties. Whichever story is true, it's clear that a rare and beautiful gemstone was revealed to the world.
There are several theories as to who discovered tanzanite first. The most popular and plausible is the one of Manuel de Souza. He was a prospector who was notified in 1967 by a Maasai tribesman about the discovery of a blue crystal near Mount Kilimanjaro. Initially thought to have found previously unknown sapphire deposits, he was later confirmed to have discovered a new gemstone, the tanzanite. However, other legends say that the gemstone was first discovered by the native Maasai Cattle Herders after a fire. They noticed an unusual blue stone amongst the ashes, as the heat turned the brown zoisite crystals into deep purple-blue gemstones and soon began mining it for its unique properties. Whichever story is true, it's clear that a rare and beautiful gemstone was revealed to the world.
Pleochroism is an optical phenomenon caused by the anisotropic structures of many minerals, resulting in different colours when looked at from different angles. Tanzanite is one of the few gemstones that exhibit this phenomenon. Depending on the angle the stone is viewed from it can appear between pinkish-purple, yellowish, and a deep purplish-blue. Brown, grey and colourless are additional colours that can be displayed by a Tanzanite.
Pleochroism is an optical phenomenon caused by the anisotropic structures of many minerals, resulting in different colours when looked at from different angles. Tanzanite is one of the few gemstones that exhibit this phenomenon. Depending on the angle the stone is viewed from it can appear between pinkish-purple, yellowish, and a deep purplish-blue. Brown, grey and colourless are additional colours that can be displayed by a Tanzanite.
Tanzanite is reportedly one thousand times rarer than diamond. This is owing to the fact that it is exclusively found within a small area of the world, in Tanzania. Due to the rarity of the blue gemstone, it is very highly prized, and the impending depletion of its mines is expected to increase its value even further.
Tanzanite is reportedly one thousand times rarer than diamond. This is owing to the fact that it is exclusively found within a small area of the world, in Tanzania. Due to the rarity of the blue gemstone, it is very highly prized, and the impending depletion of its mines is expected to increase its value even further.
In June of 2020, a discovery was made of the largest raw tanzanite ever mined. A man by the name of Saniniu Laizer found two tanzanite stones, one weighing 9.2 kilograms (46’350 ct) and the other weighing 5.8 kilograms (29’000 ct). The astounding sum of £2.4 million was provided to Laizer by Tanzania's mining ministry. He planned to use the profit to contribute to the betterment of the local community by constructing a shopping center and a school.
