Beryl with Schorl

specimen number:
1655490

location:
Erongo Mts., Namibia

description:
A cluster with attractive lustrous mostly gemmy blue for crystals of beryl, this is the variety known as aquamarine, in a cluster with lustrous black crystals of schorl. Very nice combination piece that is in good condition.

The Erongo Mountains are a massive, circular volcanic complex located in the Damaraland region of Namibia, representing the remnants of a giant collapsed caldera that formed approximately 130 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous. Geologically, this "ring complex" was created as the supercontinent Gondwana began to break apart, leading to the intrusion of rare-element granites into the surrounding Damara Sequence schists. The mountains are world-famous for their high-altitude miarolitic cavities and complex pegmatites, which formed from late-stage, volatile-rich magmatic fluids. Historically, the area was known for small-scale tin and tungsten mining, but it transitioned into a premier destination for mineral specimens in the late 20th century. Beryl is one of the most iconic minerals from this locality, particularly the varieties aquamarine and "blue-cap" tourmaline associations. The aquamarine crystals are prized for their intense, naturally saturated blue to blue-green color and sharp, hexagonal prismatic habit. These crystals often grow in aesthetic clusters on white feldspar or smoky quartz, sometimes reaching several centimeters in length with exceptional transparency. Today, the Erongo Mountains remain a hub of artisanal mining activity, where local "miners of the clouds" scale treacherous granite cliffs to recover some of the most sought-after beryl and schorl specimens in the international mineral market.

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