GEM & JEWELRY ARTICLE

Largest Tanzanite In History Discovered

A Tanzanian small-scale miner has just discovered the biggest Tanzanites in history, worth $3.3m

Nicky Thomas

Gemstone & Jewelry
Style & Trends Editor

Saniniu Laizer, a Tanzanian subsistence miner (pictured below) has just discovered the largest Tanzanites ever found. The two rough crystals which have a combined weight of approximately 15kg were discovered in one of the Tanzanite mines in the Merelani hills, in the north of the country. 

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A Tanzanian mines ministry spokesperson said they weighed in at 9.27kg (46,350cts) and 5.103kg (25,515cts)


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Laizer has received a cheque for 7.74bn Tanzanian shillings ($3.35m) from the Tanzanian government for the
two beautiful violet/blue Tanzanite crystals. 

Laizer plans to build a shopping mall and a school to support the local people in his area.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR Nicky Thomas

Educated at the University of Exeter and a key part of our team here at The Rare Gemstone Company, Nicky has been fascinated by gemstones and jewelry since childhood. She explores all areas of the industry in her blog and revels in the proximity to gems and jewels that working at the source of some of the world’s most beautiful and rarest gemstones provides her.

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