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A LUCKY miner who became an overnight millionaire has bumped up his fortune to £3million after finding another huge tanzanite gemstone.

Saniniu Laizer unearthed the beautiful 6.3kg (14lb) rock just one month after earning $3.4 million (£2.6m) for two book-sized stones weighing a total 14kg (31lb) in Tanzania.

He may be a small-scale miner, but Tanzanian Saniniu Laizer makes big finds
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He may be a small-scale miner, but Tanzanian Saniniu Laizer makes big findsCredit: AFP or licensors
His huge finds have rewarded him with an equally massive cheque
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His huge finds have rewarded him with an equally massive chequeCredit: AFP - Getty

His latest find means the Tanzanian subsistence miner hit the jackpot again, collecting another cheque - this time for $2million (£1.5m), reports the .

In June, two dark violet-blue gemstones, each about the size of a forearm, were discovered by Laizer in one of the tanzanite mines in the north of the country, which are surrounded by a wall to control cross-border smuggling of the gemstones.

Back then the miner, who was reported as having more than 30 children, told the BBC he would hold a big party to celebrate his windfall.

Aside from party, he planned to open a shopping mall and a school for his community in Simanjiro district in northern Manyara region, along with a health facility.

Tanzanite is a gemstone found only in a small northern region of the East African nation.

Two of the Tanzanite gemstones previously sold by Laizer - the largest ever found, said the Ministry of Mines
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Two of the Tanzanite gemstones previously sold by Laizer - the largest ever found, said the Ministry of MinesCredit: Reuters

Minerals Minister Doto Biteko said on state television at the first cheque presentation ceremony that the government was buying the rare minerals for preservation.

“We’re signing agreements today in public to facilitate the cash transfe... and the government recognises Laizer is a new billionaire,” he said, speaking in terms of the local currency.

Laizer told the media: “The money that I have received today, I will allocate it to more development activities."

Tanzania is a rich country, President John Magufuli said when congratulating him.

Mining activities accounted for 17 per cent of the East African country’s GDP in 2019.

Tanzanite is found only in the East African country, and the government has tried to stamp out smuggling of the gemstone
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Tanzanite is found only in the East African country, and the government has tried to stamp out smuggling of the gemstoneCredit: Tanzania Ministry of Minerals
Saniniu Laizer sold the 6.3kg Tanzanite stone at a trading event
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Saniniu Laizer sold the 6.3kg Tanzanite stone at a trading event

President Magufuli’s administration has imposed reforms that seek to curb smuggling and increase revenue collection in the sector.

Mines Ministry spokesman, Simon Msanjila, said after his first two hauls: “Today’s event... is to recognise the two largest tanzanite gemstones in history since the beginning of mining activities in Mirerani."

Laizer was pictured on Tanzanian television being presented with a large cheque after the Bank of Tanzania bought the gemstones.

Tanzania last year set up trading centres around the country to allow artisanal miners to sell their gems and gold to the government.

Artisanal miners are not officially employed by any mining companies and usually mine by hand in Tanzania, one of Africa's poorest countries.

Saniniu Laizer intends spending his cash on new community facilities, including a school, he told reporters
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Saniniu Laizer intends spending his cash on new community facilities, including a school, he told reporters

Three years ago Tanzania ordered walls to be built around tanzanite mines to end illegal trade.

Magufuli’s government accused mining firms of cheating Tanzania out of its fair share of mineral wealth through tax dodging and smuggling, allegations they denied in 2017.

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A parliamentary inquiry team said that it had uncovered massive smuggling of the blue-violet tanzanite gemstone, which is used for ornaments and is coloured blue, red, purple or even green.

The mines are located 16km south of Kilimanjaro Airport.

What is Tanzanite?

The gemstone was first unearthed in 1967.

Tanzanite is found in only one place on earth, near majestic Mount Kilimanjaro, explains the .

It is mined commercially only in one area of the world: the Merelani Hills of Tanzania, which is where it gets its name.

GIA describes its colour as "poised between lush blue, vibrant violet and rich purple".

Because the crystals show different colours depending on the viewing direction, cutters can fashion gems with a range of colour from violetish-blue to bluish-violet.

But it depends on how much weight they want to retain from the rough mined stone.

In 1969, American Mineralogist described the gem's colours as "red-violet, deep blue, and yellow green".

Today, most tanzanite is heat-treated, which removes or reduces the yellow-green or brownish colour, maximising its blue and violet hues.

Tanzanite is a birthstone for December.

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