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RAPAPORT... Richland Resources Limited, the parent company of TanzaniteOne Mining Ltd., opened its www.tanzaniteoneonline.com retail website for selling tanzanite and jewelry directly to consumers. For the most part, loose stones and jewelry are available for up to about $18,000 initially; however, the company noted that exceptional pieces are also available upon request. TanzaniteOneOnline is a newly formed subsidiary of Richland Resources Ltd. and the ecommerce channel marks the first time the mining company has offered these gemstones directly to consumers outside of Africa.  All of TanzaniteOneOnline's pieces include the Tanzanite Foundation’s Mark of Rarity™ and a TanzaniteOne certificate of authenticity and origin. The company prides itself on offering tanzanite as conflict-free and responsibly sourced. Bernard Olivier, Richland Resources' CEO, said, “With our gemstone cutting operations in their second year of operation and development of our jewelry partnerships, the launch of tanzaniteoneonline.com enables Richland to retail tanzanite directly to global consumers. Our involvement in every step in our tanzanite’s route from mine to market is unique and allows us to guarantee not only the provenance, but the quality and ethical status of our gems.” In other company updates, Richland Resources received a new mining license from Tanzania's Ministry of Energy and Minerals and this license is jointly held with the State Mining Corporation of Tanzania. The government reconfirmed it would be working with Richland to ensure security for workers at existing operations and reclaim mining areas that have been lost to artisanal workers in the area. TanzaniteOne Mining has experienced uncontrolled illegal mining activities at its operations that have severely affected its operational and financial performance for more than a year. At the time Richland Resources received the renewal in June, it remained optimistic that the government would address illegal mining activity within the license area and also curb smuggling of tanzanite, which is suppressing tanzanite prices, according to the company. This past month, Willy Onesmo Mushi, an employee of TanzaniteOne Mining, was killed by illegal miners within the Block C license area. Richland Resources contended that violence directed against company employees, especially within high-grade and high-quality gemstone zones, had severely curtailed operations. The government had launched an operation to expel illegal miners beginning on July 18, resulting in reclaiming some of Block C for TanzaniteOne Mining, but while the operation was continuing, Mushi was killed by an armed, illegal miner underground and in the presence of the Tanzania police.
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