Cerussite with Malachite

specimen number:
1052314

location:
Tsumeb Mine, Otjikoto, Namibia

description:
Twinned crystals of lustrous cerussite and groupings to 2.6 cm in size on a green crystallized malachite matrix. There are prismatic crystals of mimetite present, these now replaced by a later green mineral species. The specimen comes with an antique label dating this to the early 20th century, this is shown at the end of the video. Note that the label mistakenly lists pyromorphite instead of mimetite. Mining at Tsumeb, Namibia began in the late 19th century after the discovery of a rich pipe like polymetallic orebody containing copper, lead, and zinc along with numerous minor and rare elements. Large scale underground development expanded through the 20th century under successive companies, and a smelter at the site became central to the towns economy. The deposit is notable for its complex geology and exceptional mineral diversity, producing hundreds of distinct mineral species including many rare secondary copper minerals formed in the oxidized zone. Although primary mining ceased in the 1990s, Tsumeb remains one of the most important historic and mineralogical localities in the world.

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