Tanzanite is one of the rarest gemstones on Earth and its appeal lies in a variety of hues, including green, red, purple, and blue. Tanzanite is only found in northern Tanzania and is used to make ornaments.
The third discovery by Saniniu Laizer weighed 6.3 kg, and he sold the gem for $2 million.
Saniniu Laizer is a small scale miner in Tanzania, Laizer found precious stones earlier in June and sold the stones to the country’s ministry for the gemstone for $3.4 million. Laizer mined the stone, weighing 9.2 kg and 5.8 kg and sold them during trading even in the northern region of Manyara
Laizer, 52 who has four wives, and more than 30 children planned to build a school near his house with the money he earned. While talking to BBC he said:
“I want to build a shopping mall and a school. I want to build this school near my home. There are many poor people around here who can’t afford to take their children to school.”
“I am not educated but I like things run in a professional way. So I would like my children to run the business professionally.”
However, Laizer has made sure that this find would not change his lifestyle and he planned to continue looking after his 2,000 cows. He believes that he did not need to take extra precautions after he found the stones and the money he received.
“There is enough security [here]. There won’t be any problem. I can even walk around at night without any problem.”
Laizer urged his fellow small-scale miners to work with the government, saying that his experience was a good example.
Laizer acquires government license to prospect for Tanzanite, but illegal mining is prohibited especially near mines owned by big companies.
IN 2017, President Magufuli ordered the military to build a 24 km (14 miles) perimeter wall around the mining site in Manyara, Merelani, which is believed to be the only source of Tanzanite.
