Wurtzite

specimen number:
9711751

location:
Merelani Hills, Simanjiro, Manyara, Tanzania

description:
Superb large crystal for the species, slightly translucent and in great condition. An outstanding thumbnail.

The Merelani Hills in Simanjiro, Manyara, Tanzania, famous as the exclusive source of tanzanite, were discovered in July 1967 when local herders and prospectors found striking blue crystals, and these active mining blocks remain operational today without a closing date. Geologically, the region is situated within a complex metamorphic terrain of the Mozambique Belt, consisting of folded graphitic gneisses, schists, marbles, and calc-silicate rocks shaped by intense ancient mountain building. This unique environment features hydrothermal veins and structurally controlled pockets enriched with vanadium, which gives rise to rare minerals like blue zoisite alongside associated rare sulfide mineral specimens including wurtzite.

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