"Smithsonian Unveils Stunning Gem in Memory of Slain Geologist"
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Washington Post
The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History will unveil a 116-carat tsavorite gemstone, named the Lion of Merelani, in honor of geologist Campbell Bridges who discovered tsavorite in East Africa in the 1960s and was murdered in 2009. The gemstone, the largest precision-cut tsavorite in the world, was donated by Somewhere in the Rainbow and tsavorite mining executive Bruce Bridges. The rectangular "cushion" shaped gemstone is considered rare and is valued for its 177 facets. The gemstone will be displayed in the museum's hall of geology, gems, and minerals alongside other spectacular jewels.