Cerussite with Barite, Galena

specimen number:
2341159

location:
Lidal Mine, Mibladen, Midelt, Draa-Tafilalet, Morocco

description:
The top of this matrix is scattered richly throughout with reddish crystal groupings of bladed barite to almost 2.0 cm in size. Small sparkling crystals of colorless cerussite to 0.4 cm in size or richly placed throughout this barite crystal matrix. Minor galena present. In good condition with slight micro-damage present. From 2016, the specimen comes with a previous label from the collection of Jan Erik Larsen.

Mibladen, located in the high plateau region of the Middle Atlas Mountains in Morocco, is a world-famous historic mining district with operations that expanded significantly during the French protectorate in the early to mid-20th century for lead and barite. Geologically, the deposit is situated within secondary sedimentary carbonate formations, where mineralizing hydrothermal fluids interacted with limestone and dolostone host rocks to form rich oxidized zones. Mineralogically, the district is globally renowned for producing exceptional, highly aesthetic specimens of orange-red vanadinite crystals, often associated with pristine barite, cerussite, and wulfenite, making it one of the most celebrated mineral localities in Africa.

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