Vanadinite with Barite

specimen number:
2013642

location:
Mibladen, Draa-Tafilalet, Morocco

description:
Gorgeous lustrous red tabular crystals of vanadinite to 0.5 cm in size on a bladed barite crystal matrix. In good condition with slight chipping to some of the barite crystals, classic and attractive combination piece.

The Mibladen mining district, situated in the Midelt Province of the Upper Moulouya Basin, Morocco, is the world's most significant source of high-quality crystallized vanadinite. Geologically, the deposits are hosted within Jurassic-age limestone and dolomite strata, where lead-zinc mineralization occurs in stratabound layers and karst-related cavities. These secondary mineralizations formed through the oxidation of primary galena in the presence of vanadium-bearing hydrothermal fluids, resulting in the precipitation of the stunning, hexagonal, bright red to orange-brown vanadinite crystals for which the region is famous. Historically, mining and underground quarrying at Mibladen began in the early 20th century under French colonial administration, with the most intensive industrial lead production occurring between 1920 and 1975. While the large-scale commercial lead mines were officially closed in the mid-1970s due to economic depletion, the district has experienced a continuous second life through small-scale artisanal mining and quarrying specifically targeting mineral specimens. Through 2026, hundreds of local miners continue to work the historical shafts and surface diggings at sites like the ACF and Les Dalles mines, ensuring that Mibladen remains the global benchmark for vanadinite in the international mineral trade.

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