Tanzanite is the blue-purple variety of the mineral zoisite, which was discovered in the Mererani Hills of Northern Tanzania in 1967, near the city of Arusha and Mount Kilimanjaro. It is named after the country in which it was discovered. Tanzanite is a rare gem. Cut tanzanites of more than fifty carats are particularly rare. This gem has a very beautiful saturated blue colour with violet flashes.