Beryl with Schorl

specimen number:
1647068

location:
Erongo Mts., Namibia

description:

Mostly gemmy lustrous yellowish green color zoned crystals of beryl to 1.5 cm in size coming off of a crystallized schorl matrix. Very minimal micro damage present, this is in good condition.  Very attractive.  Cubic crystals of fluorite present as well.

The Erongo Mountains, located in west-central Namibia, represent a prominent Cretaceous-aged anorogenic volcanic ring complex that rose during the breakup of Gondwana. Geologically, this massive circular structure consists of a subsided volcanic caldera surrounded by younger granitic intrusions, notably the Erongo Granite, which cut through older Neoproterozoic basement schists. The late-stage magmatic cooling within these granites formed extensive miarolitic cavities and pegmatite zones rich in volatile elements, yielding crystal pockets of aquamarine beryl, schorl tourmaline, fluorite, and topaz. While large-scale industrial mining has been limited to minor commercial pegmatite quarrying for feldspar and lithium minerals starting in the mid-twentieth century, the region is characterized by continuous, decentralized small-scale and artisanal specimen mining operations. These surface and shallow underground digging activities intensified significantly during the 1970s and 1980s, evolving into a major ongoing source of mineral specimens that continues actively into the present day.

Questions about this specimen?
Send an email or call us: 314-341-1811.