Tanzanite is 1000 times more rare than diamond because most gems are found in several places in the world but tanzanite is only found in Merelani Hills of Tanzania around Mount Kilimanjaro. The gem mining area is located 70 km from Arusha, where tanzanite was first found in 1967. It is subdivided in four claims (A, B, C, D) and additional mines.

Tanzanite is a part of the zoisite mineral species which occurs widely, but having random presence of vanadium in the same vicinity under exacting geological conditions more than 585 million years ago created the ideal environment for tanzanite’s conception. Tanzanite’s formation is so rare that it itself is a fascinating process.

Indeed, according to expert’s chances of tanzanite occurring elsewhere in the world is one in a million.

Because of rarity of the stone it will only be limited to a single generation. Those who possess it are fortunate enough and those aspiring to acquire one in the next decade or so will be the only first-time owners. Thereafter, tanzanite will become a precious heirloom.

This region of the Merelani Hills is also known as a source for Tsavorite, which is mined at the Lemshuko mine, near Komolo.