We are pleased to share a beautiful new addition to the Blackhawk Museum’s Art of Africa gallery: a striking Tanzanite gemstone.
Tanzanite is one of the world’s most remarkable gemstones, known for its vivid blue-violet hues and its rarity. Discovered only in the late 20th century, Tanzanite is found exclusively in a small region of northern Tanzania, at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. This single geographic source makes Tanzanite a thousand times rarer than diamond, an origin that closely ties it to the cultural and natural heritage of East Africa.
The gemstone on display offers visitors an opportunity to appreciate tanzanite’s natural beauty up close. Depending on lighting and angle, the gem can reveal subtle shifts in color, ranging from deep sapphire blues to rich violet tones, a defining characteristic that has made tanzanite so highly regarded.
We invite visitors to take a moment to view this latest and most stunning addition to Art of Africa, then continue exploring the art, artifacts, and stories that celebrate the richness and diversity of African cultures throughout the exhibit.