H μετάλλευση και τα ορυχεία μας. Η ιστορία του πολύτιμου λίθου Τανζανίτη.
The “Blue Stone” identified as a blue variety of zoisite by the geologists at the time of the 50s, acquired the name ‘Tanzanite” when in 1967 it was found to be a rare stone and not common zoisite as previously thought.
The story of Tanzanite began to unfold when a geologist, whose name was Lupeken, from the Nairobi University, came to our Mbuguni Mine to collect rock specimens for the newly opened Geology Section at the University, in 1965. Among the specimens he took away with him were some pieces of blue-colored zoisite, which we used as paperweights in our little office at the Mbuguni Mines. After a few months he returned to our Mbuguni Mines and collected some more of these so-called “blue-variety-zoisite”. As a geologist he had found that this stone did not compare with any other zoisite variety known to him. He had seen or knew of the zoisite produced in Salzburg, Austria, as well as that from South Carolina in U.S.A. He sent samples to Paris, Amsterdam and Idar-Oberstein in Germany. Paris and Amsterdam concluded that it was simply an ordinary zoisite. Germany on the other hand, was intrigued with this variety and forwarded samples to the Jewelers Tiffany’s in New York. It was then in 1967 that Tiffany’s perceived that it was a rare stone with typical characteristics of good quality material. The transparent colors of ultramarine blue to sapphire blue appeared like violet amethyst under artificial light. Heating it up to 400-500o C deepened the beautiful blue color. In good quality material the color is ultramarine blue to sapphire blue. As it occurs only at a unique location at Mbuguni in the ‘Blue Mountains’ near Arusha in Tanzania, was named after the country of origin “Tanzanite”. The hardness of Tanzanite is only 6 ½ to 7 on Moh’s scale, but it has perfect cleavage. Due to its rarity and beauty it was classified as a gemstone.
When we, (my father, my brother Xenophon and myself) got word of this, we began searching for the blue stones in the rubbles we had already excavated from the pits and trenches. We then discovered more in the veins of various gneisses. But in the next to no time, in 1969, like a gold rush, many new claimants surrounded our 8-square-mile concession, searching for the new gemstone. Eventually there was complete confusion as many claims had overlapped each other, the Mines Department could not plot them on the Mines’ map and had to declare a suspension of all mining activities in the area until the plotting of a new survey was to be conducted by the Mines Department, which was never fulfilled. We were obliged to close down, but managed, however, to take away with us what we had already extracted from the excavations.
The end result of all this, was that in the following years a lot of uncut Tanzanite stones was smuggled into Kenya by gemstone poachers. Many of these fellows used to work at our mines. The uncut gemstones were sold to jewelers, lapidaries and merchants for much less than their true worth. The situation continued for several years and eventually much Tanzanite had been accumulated in Kenya, that the gem came to be included in Kenya’s own schedule of mineral production.
During the communist era in Tanzania, which was declared in 1967, after the “Azimio ya Arusha” = The ‘Arusha declaration’, no one was permitted to possess any uncut Tanzanite and by law no one was allowed to possess any gemstones unless he had a valid prospecting license and registered mining claim, or was a registered jeweler. Whoever was found to have any type of gemstone was fined or jailed, or both.
The laws regarding suppression of communism were strict and penalties severe. A person could be deprived of all human rights and dignity and become destitute and disposed of all property. By 1969 we lost our plantations, buildings and Mbuguni Mine (the Mica and Tanzanite Mine) through the nationalization process, without receiving any compensation whatsoever, even the bank accounts were frozen. The new generations of the country were bringers of darkness. They had no respect for the old orders of society, which were so carefully built up. They tried to tear down and destroyed all that the white man had built up. We had been caught up in events too turbulent for any of us. All we inherited were the ashes of a once beautiful land. We had to turn away.
But by sheer luck we continued the excavations for tourmaline and garnets at our Okutu Mine, which was situated in Terat deep in the Maasailand. Fortunately they did not take from me the right to have my Prospecting Right No 22095, which was renewed annually from 1958 to 1970 - G.R.R. 2/316471 for all minerals except diamonds. With effect from 22nd March 1971 this right allowed me to “prospect for all minerals which included diamonds until 1976, when I had to depart and went to Kenya, because the situation in Tanzania was worsening
Mbuguni Mines was registered on my father’s name, my Brother Xenophon’s name and my name since the British era in the then Tanganyika Territory, under Certificate of Registration No. 9643 for Ruby Muscovite Mica since the 9th of May 1957, and for Tanzanite after Tiffany & Co, in 1967 perceived that it is a rare gemstone. The established Mbuguni Mines concession of 8 sq. miles was situated in the Lelatema Mountains, the so called “Blue Mountains” or The Mererani Hills. My brother and I had Blasting Certificates authorizing us to do blasting operations in the category A.3. (All forms of blasting). My Blasting Certificate was No. A 167 of 28th July 1967 valid until 27th July 1977. Both Mica and Tanzanite occurred in metamorphic rocks. Crystals were mostly embedded in veins and infillings of gneisses, prismatic, massive aggregates, terminal faces rarely well developed, and the colors of grey, green, pink, blue and yellow. Mbuguni was a unique locality near Arusha for this gemstone.
Okutu Mines was registered on my name under Amalgamation Certificate No 641 of 16th February 1970, consisting of 23 claims of 1700 x 1000 feet each. (39 acres of land), for tourmaline and garnets. Okutu Mine was situated deep in the Maasailand at a place called Terat, at the foot of the Okutu Rocky Hills
I still possess both the originals and renewal Cert. Registration Rights of both Mines, which are on my name, and which were issued during the British era in the 40s & 50s, and during the Tanganyika’s Independence time of 1961-1966) and during the new name Tanzania, when joined with Zanzibar, in the years 1966-1976.
The above is the only true account about the Tanzanite gemstone and mica from Mbuguni Mines, as well as gemstones from Okutu Mines.
