Cerussite with Duftite

specimen number:
2072060

location:
Tsumeb Mine, Otjikoto, Namibia

description:
Lustrous twinned crystals of cerussite measuring to 0.4 cm in size across this matrix with green crystallized duftite. In good condition.

The Tsumeb Mine, located in the Oshikoto Region of northern Namibia, is widely regarded as one of the most remarkable mineral localities on Earth. The deposit was originally known to local San and Owambo people who traded copper ore long before European arrival. Formal colonial mining began around 1900, with the mine operating almost continuously until its final closure in 1996. Geologically, Tsumeb is a polymetallic pipe-like ore body that penetrates deeply through a thick sequence of Precambrian-aged Otavi Group carbonates, primarily dolomite. This vertical pipe formed as a massive karst or breccia structure that was later mineralized by metal-rich hydrothermal fluids. The mine is legendary for its complex oxidation zones, which reached depths of over 1000 meters, allowing for the formation of a vast array of secondary minerals. It is the type locality for dozens of species and has produced world-class specimens of dioptase, azurite, cerussite, and mimetite. The unique chemistry of the ore, containing high levels of copper, lead, zinc, arsenic, and germanium, resulted in a mineral diversity that remains unmatched by almost any other site in the world.

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