Merelani Hills
Curated by Maggie Liu · Updated:
The Merelani Hills of Tanzania are the world's only significant source of tanzanite — the blue-violet gem variety of zoisite — and of fine green tsavorite garnet.
About Merelani Hillsextended article
What it is known for
Merelani's graphitic gneisses host gem tanzanite (blue zoisite), tsavorite (green grossular garnet), and well-formed crystals of both, often on matrix.
What collectors look for
Gem tanzanite crystals and tsavorite — especially well-terminated, richly coloured examples on matrix — are the most sought-after.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Merelani Hills?
Merelani Hills is a mineral locality in Manyara, Tanzania. It lies at approximately 3.5900°S, 36.9600°E. Elevation is about 1400 m.
What minerals are found at Merelani Hills?
Signature minerals from Merelani Hills include Tanzanite, Tsavorite, Graphite. The locality lies in Manyara, Tanzania, and each mineral links to a full reference entry with formula, crystal system, and collector notes.
What is Merelani Hills known for?
The Merelani Hills of Tanzania are the world's only significant source of tanzanite — the blue-violet gem variety of zoisite — and of fine green tsavorite garnet.
Looking for specimens from Merelani Hills?
Our inventory is one-of-a-kind and turns over quickly. Tell us what you're after and we'll notify you when a matching Merelani Hills specimen arrives from our sourcing network.
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