Biggest tanzanite gems in history ($3.3m) found by small-scale miner

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A Tanzanian miner is planning a celebration after the government handed him a cheque for 7.74bn Tanzanian shillings ($3.35m) for the two largest tanzanite gemstones ever found.

The two dark violet-blue gemstones, each about 30cm long and 10cm thick, were discovered by Saniniu Laizer in a mine in the north of the country.

Tanzanite is found only in a small northern region of the east African nation. It was first identified in 1967.

Tanzania built a fence around tanzanite mining concessions in northern Tanzania in April 2018 in an attempt to control illegal mining and trading activities. At the time, officials said 40% of tanzanite produced there was being lost.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/25/small-scale-miner-finds-biggest-tanzanite-gems-in-history-worth-33m