Duftite on Calcite

specimen number:
2292433

location:
Tsumeb Mine, Otjikoto, Namibia

description:
A cluster of rhombohedral calcite crystals, the largest 2.5 cm across, the front side dusted with green crystallized duftite. Classic material for the locality, this collected in the 1970s. In good condition.

The Tsumeb mine, located in northern Namibia, is situated within a pipe-like karst structure in Precambrian dolomite. Formed by the collapse of carbonate rocks over millions of years, the site developed a complex hydrothermal system where mineral-rich fluids deposited a vast variety of elements. First explored in the late 19th century, large-scale mining operations began in the early 1900s, targeting copper, lead, and zinc. Throughout its operation, which lasted until 1996, the mine gained worldwide recognition for the diversity and quality of its secondary mineral species, including mimetite, cerussite, and dioptase. The unique geological history of the Tsumeb pipe resulted in a mineralogically complex deposit that is considered one of the most prolific sites for rare minerals in the world.

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