Richland Resources today announced it has agreed a 10 year 50:50 joint venture partnership with the State Mining Corporation of Tanzania, STAMICO. The deal will see 50% of profits from the mine shared between Richland's fully owned subsidiary TanzaniteOne and the Tanzanian government. 

Richland Resources' CEO Bernard Olivier highlighted the social dimesion of this deal: "Today's agreement secures us a new, 10 year, mining agreement and a clear alignment of interests with the Government and people of Tanzania."  ...

Hayley Henning is the Director of Richland Resource's 'Tanzanite Foundation', an intiative formed to promote the Tanzanite Gemstone, ensure its ethical production, and implement CSR projects in the local communities. She discusses the history of the foundation, her involvement with it, and some of their ongoing CSR projects to date. ...

Amos Chakupewa has been working for Richland's subsidiary TanzaniteOne for four and half years as chief geologist. Working underdround, his job consists of a seemingly esoteric process of 'geological data collection and interpretation, underground mapping and assisting miners underground with how to follow geological structures." A Tanzanian with a degree in Geology, Amos previously worked for Iamgold Tanzania Ltd.

The heavy April rainfall in Shambari, Bwawani and Kiloyvera brought severe flooding to the area for the second time in 5 years. In response Richland Resources' TanzaniteOne subsidiary set out to provide all affected people with immediate food and water provision. We delivered over 500 fresh litres of drinking water as well as food supplies to nearly 1000 residents who had been left stranded and homeless. ...

Richland's subsidiary TanzaniteOne was awarded recognition at the Presidential Awards on the Extractive Industries in August this year. The President of Tanzania, Dr. Jakaya M. Kikwete was present as Guest of Honor and awarded the company first place in both the Water and the Empowerment categories, and second in both the Education and Employment categories. The company also won second place overall in the Medium Scale Mineral Projects Category. ...

In honour of the rare blue gem's 45th anniversary, the Tanzanite Foundation handed out tanzanite coloured balloons at the JCK Las Vegas Jewellery Show to exhibitors who showcased the stone in their collections. For each balloon distributed, TanzaniteOne donated $10 to Tanzanite Foundaation Community projects which bought desks for a primary school near the tanzanite mining area. ...

Richland owned subsidiary TanzaniteOne has been featured in the Ethical Mining and Fair Trade chapter of 'InColour', a Gemstone.org publication. Click here to view the article. ...