Tanzanite · Origin
Merelani Hills, Tanzania Tanzanite
The Merelani Hills, at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro, are the only place on Earth tanzanite has ever been found, making origin verification more a formality than a real trade distinction for this particular gem.
The deposit was discovered only in 1967 and is worked through a series of numbered mining blocks under both small-scale and larger commercial operations. Because there's no alternative source anywhere in the world, buyers evaluate tanzanite almost entirely on color and clarity grade rather than sub-origin within Tanzania.
See how origin fits into overall value in our Tanzanite buying guide and Tanzanite price guide, or verify a specific certificate on our Tanzanite certification page.
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