A humble Tanzanian miner has discovered the world’s largest cache of tanzanite — worth over $3 million.
The two midnight-blue gemstones were unearthed in the eastern African country’s north region — the only part of the world where tanzanite can be found, Sky News reports. There, gem miners operate independently and are known to work with their hands rather than large-scale excavation equipment.
The gemstones weigh 20.43 pounds (9.27 kilograms) and 11.25 pounds (5.10 kilograms), according to a Tanzanian government spokesperson. On Thursday, the Bank of Tanzania wrote the miner, Saniniu Laizer, 52, a check for 7.74 billion Tanzanian shillings ($3.34 million).
“Today’s event … is to recognize the two largest tanzanite gemstones in history since the beginning of mining activities in Merelani,” said mines ministry permanent secretary Simon Msanjila at a televised event in Tanzania’s northern Manyara region.
Laizer was shown ceremoniously handing over the tanzanites, each about as long as his forearm, and receiving a giant check in return.
Tanzania’s President John Magufuli telephoned Laizer during the broadcast to congratulate the subsistence miner.
“This is a confirmation that Tanzania is rich,” Magufuli told minerals minister Doto Biteko, according to Sky News.
In 2018, Magufuli had an enclosure constructed in the northern region, where he claimed 40% of the country’s tanzanite was being traded illegally, to protect miners from cross-country smugglers.
