TanzaniteOne Ltd. (AIM TNZ) the world’s leading miner and marketer of tanzanite, has announced the commissioning of a fully automated {{Rough Tanzanite Optical Sorting & Primary Grading System}}, installed at the company’s Merelani Tanzanite Mine in Northern Tanzania. This highly advanced optical sorting and grading system, fully operational as of today, is a world first in the colored gemstone industry and is seen as a significant technological milestone in TanzaniteOne’s drive to continuously improve recoveries and efficiencies.$$During commissioning the system achieved a tanzanite recovery of between 96% and 100%. According to {{Mervyn Dettmer}}, TanzaniteOne’s Final Recovery Manager, “Tanzanite recovery averaged at an impressive 98% with the small fraction rejected being of very low grade and value.”$$Following primary sorting of rough tanzanite by the system, TanzaniteOne has pioneered a secondary sorting run to select broad grades of rough tanzanite in a completely hands off environment. Differential testing, to determine the accuracy and efficiency of the optical sorter, has produced highly satisfactory results, with the entire operation able to be managed and monitored electronically from an off-site location.$$Despite being in its early stages of operation, the optical sorting system is delivering impressive results and will allow TanzaniteOne to comprehensively monitor all production at plant level from a central control point.$$Ian Harebottle, President and Chief Operating Officer of TanzaniteOne Ltd said: “The installation and commissioning of this optical sorting system allows us to significantly improve the efficiency and grade of tanzanite production while reducing processing time and costs. We aim to significantly increase throughput capacity at our Merelani Tanzanite Mine and enhance the profitability of our existing tanzanite operations, whilst simultaneously freeing up further capacity for future expansion.”