Merelani Block C
Tanzanite One (Tanzanite One Mining Limited) is a gemstone mining company that mines exclusively for the blue gemstone, tanzanite. Tanzanite One Mining Company Limited is located in Block C, Merilani, Tanzania. Merelani is the only known source of tanzanite in the world.
Tanzanite One Mining Limited was established by Richland Resources, a gem development and mining company that was listed on the London Stock Exchange (AIM: RLD) in 1994. In 2014, Tanzanite One was sold to a private company Sky Associates, which is now the current owner.
The source of tanzanite is a long narrow area, divided into four blocks: called “A” to “D”. Tanzanite One Mining has the largest mining license in Block C. Medium-scale mining is conducted by Kilimanjaro Mining in Block A and Tanzanite Africa in Block D – an extension. The company’s adjacent B and D blocks are largely mined by thousands of artisanal miners who use non-automated methods that do not allow them to mine as deeply or as efficiently as a single tanzanite in block C. This presents a challenge for Tanzanite One, particularly in terms of Undercut, where artisanal miners mine in the license area designated for Tanzanite One to reach deeper and better ventilate their own. Ongoing security issues from illegal mining and lack of support from local police and government agencies were cited as a major factor in the sale of Tanzanite One by Richland Resources in 2015.
The role of the contract holders is to process the raw material tanzanite and to make jewelry. They have the ability to purchase large quantities of raw materials and have wholesale and retail distribution networks to facilitate the sale of loose tanzanites and finished jewellery.
In August 2013, Tanzanite One announced that it had opened an online store, www.tananiteoneonline, which sells tanzanite stones, tanzanite gemstones, and gold jewelry. This is the first time the mining company has offered its gemstones to retail clients. In 2015, the site was renamed richlandgemstones.com after Richland Resources sold Tanzanite One.