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Tanzanite from
Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania


02072880017271926933564.jpg
Tanzanite

Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
09605270017271927036866.jpg
Tanzanite

Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
05218050017271927009939.jpg
Tanzanite

Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
03326810017272020919849.jpg
Tanzanite

Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
02072880017271926933564.jpg
Tanzanite

Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
09605270017271927036866.jpg
Tanzanite

Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
05218050017271927009939.jpg
Tanzanite

Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
07108860017362300764319.jpg
Tanzanite

Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
02072880017271926933564.jpg
Tanzanite

Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
09879250017272020887454.jpg
Tanzanite

Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
00108520017272020903563.jpg
Tanzanite

Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
00547900017362039264599.jpg
Tanzanite

Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
Locality type:Hill
Classification
Species:Zoisite var: Tanzanite
Formula:(CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Comments:Plates 79/80 from Wilson, Wendell. E.; Bartsch, Joel A.; Mauthner, Mark (2004) Masterpieces of the Mineral World. Houston Museum of Natural Science. [https://www.mindat.org/reference.php?id=18945017]
Quality for species:Excellent - world class for species or very significant. (!!)
Significance:Classic locality for this mineral (see references.)
Confirmation
Validity:Believed Valid
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Graphite85
Prehnite83
Calcite45
Diopside28
- var Chromium-bearing Diopside1
Quartz19
Chabazite16
Alabandite14
Fluorite12
Pyrite11
Chabazite-Ca10
Stilbite-Ca10
Apophyllite Group10
Stilbite Subgroup7
Laumontite7
Gypsum6
Merelaniite5
Grossular5
- var Tsavorite4
Zoisite2
Apatite1
Allanite-(Ce)1
Fluorapatite1
Tremolite1
- var Chrome-Tremolite1
Heulandite Subgroup1
Data
Mineral Data:Click here to view Tanzanite data
Locality Data:Click here to view Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
Photo GalleryView Gallery (402 photos)
Data Identifiers
Mindat Occurrence Record ID:1375033
Long-form Identifier:1:3:1375033:6
GUID (UUID V4):0
Localities for Tanzanite in this Region
A-Block Mine, Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
B-Block Mine, Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
C-Block Mine, Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
D-Block Mine, Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
Mawaya pit, Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
Samax Mine, Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
Nearest other occurrences of Tanzanite
4.8km (3.0 miles) ⓘD-Block Mine, Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
References
Bindi, L.
Wilson, Wendell. E.; Bartsch, Joel A.; Mauthner, Mark (2004) Masterpieces of the Mineral World. Houston Museum of Natural Science.pp.190-193
Bindi, Luca, Jaszczak, John A. (2020) Richardsite, Zn2CuGaS4, A New Gallium-Essential Member of the Stannite Group from the Gem Mines near Merelani, Tanzania. Minerals, 10 (5) 467 doi:10.3390/min10050467
Schwarzinger, Clemens, Ulatowski, Steve, Rossman, George R. (2025) The Origin of Color in Tanzanite and Zoisite from Merelani, Tanzania. csgemstones.com.
 
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