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Tanzanite

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J.R.Truett Ltd. Inc

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Tanzanite is an extraordinary gemstone. It occurs in only one place worldwide. Its blue, surrounded
by a fine hint of purple, is a wonderful color. Thanks to its unusual aura and the help of the New
York jeweler's Tiffany, it has rapidly become one of the most coveted gemstones in the world.
 

As showing below it comes in many colors
 

necklace 7 bracelet

It is named after the East African state of Tanzania, the only place in the world where it has been
found. Africa? Does anyone think of gemstones when they hear that name? Well they should, because
Africa is a continent which provides the world with a multitude of truly magnificent gemstones,
ike tanzanite for example. On its discovery in 1967, it was enthusiastically celebrated by the
specialists as the 'gemstone of the 20th century'. They held their breath in excitement as they
caught sight of the first deep-blue crystals which had been found in the Merelani Hills near Arusha in
the north of Tanzania. Millions of years ago, metamorphic schists, gneisses and quartzites formed
impressive, flat-topped inselbergs on a vast plain in the shadow of Kilimanjaro. The precious crystals
grew in deposits on the inside of these unusual elevations. For a long, long time they were
from the eye of Man, until one day some passing Masai shepherds noticed some sparkling crystals
lying in the sun and took them along with them.
 

'In Merelani today, the search is carried on for the coveted crystals in several, smallish mines, in some
cases using modern methods. As a rule, only small grains are found, but now and again the mineworkers
succeed in fetching out a larger crystal – to the joy of the mine owners and that of the large number
of tanzanite fans.

he tanzanite trade is in the hands of many licensed merchants, mostly on a small scale, who have,
Germany, Israel and the USA. An estimated 90 per cent of all tanzanite merchants are official members
of the International Colored Gemstone Association ICA, and are thus bound by the high ethical standards
of that organisation. In this way, this exclusive gemstone is not subject to trade via dubious channels,
but instead, in spite of its rarity, passed on along reputable trade routes to established cutting-centres
and subsequently to major jewellers all round the world.