What is Tanzanite? A Brief History of this Unique Gemstone
Tanzanite is a relatively new gemstone, having only been discovered in 1967. However, it has quickly become one of the most popular gemstones in the world. Here is a quick look at the history of tanzanite.
Tanzanite was first discovered in Tanzania (hence its name) by Manuel de Souza, a Portuguese prospector. De Souza stumbled upon a deposit of the blue-violet variety of zoisite while he was looking for another type of stone. He initially thought that he had found sapphires, but after taking his samples to be analyzed, it was determined that they were actually a new gemstone.
Tanzanite was officially recognized as a new gemstone species in 1968. While tanzanite is found in other countries, Tanzania is the only place in the world where it is mined commercially. The majority of tanzanite mines are located in the Mererani Hills of northern Tanzania. Demand for tanzanite skyrocketed in the early 1970s after Tiffany & Co. began marketing the stone to jewelers and consumers. The company promoted tanzanite as "the most important new gemstone of the 20th century."
Tanzanite is a pleochroic gemstone, meaning that it exhibits different colors when viewed from different angles. The most common colors seen in tanzanite are blue, violet, and burgundy. Because of its beauty and rarity, tanzanite has become one of the most popular gemstones in the world. It is often used as an alternative to sapphire and is considered to be one of the “big three” colored gemstones, along with ruby and emerald.
While tanzanite is enjoyed by gemstone lovers around the world, the future of the stone is somewhat uncertain. The only known deposit of tanzanite is located in a very remote area of Tanzania. As a result, mining operations are quite difficult and costly. It is estimated that the current supply of tanzanite could be depleted within 20 to 30 years. So enjoy your tanzanite jewelry while you can! Who knows what the future holds for this rare gem?
As interest in tanzanite continues to grow, so does the risk of conflict associated with the gem. In recent years, there have been reports of violence and human rights abuses in the Merelani Hills. These incidents underscore the importance of supporting responsible mining and trading practices in Tanzania.
At Palm Beach Heirlooms, we are doing our best to support education in the surrounding communities by donating a percentage of our profits to help stabilize the region. Every donation matters when trying to help solve global issues! All of our tanzanites are from vetted locations. We are responsible jewelers who acquire tanzanite ethically. By supporting our company, we can help ensure a bright future for Tanzania's beautiful blue gem.
