We use cookies to show content based on your preferences. If you continue to browse you accept their use and installation. More information. >

FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board
The place to share your mineralogical experiences


Spanish message board






Newest topics and users posts
28 Mar-09:37:50 Re: 2 unknowns co-occurring with caledonite, grand reef mine, az (Cfrench58)
27 Mar-19:47:08 Re: 2 unknowns co-occurring with caledonite, grand reef mine, az (Pete Richards)
27 Mar-16:15:44 Re: 2 unknowns co-occurring with caledonite, grand reef mine, az (Cfrench58)
27 Mar-15:18:59 Re: 2 unknowns co-occurring with caledonite, grand reef mine, az (Alfredo)
27 Mar-14:39:29 2 unknowns co-occurring with caledonite, grand reef mine, az (Cfrench58)
27 Mar-05:21:48 Re: the mim museum in beirut, lebanon (Mim Museum)
27 Mar-05:03:26 Re: trying to find information on rose/pink quartz and tourmaline associations. (Ning)
27 Mar-02:39:50 Re: the mim museum in beirut, lebanon (Tobi)
27 Mar-00:23:28 Re: collection of volkmar stingl (Volkmar Stingl)
26 Mar-00:53:41 Re: collection of volkmar stingl (Volkmar Stingl)
25 Mar-13:32:10 Re: collection of michael shaw (Michael Shaw)
25 Mar-00:25:58 The mizunaka collection - quartz (Am Mizunaka)
23 Mar-13:35:22 Re: collection of firmo espinar (Firmo Espinar)
22 Mar-08:32:28 Re: collection of michael shaw (Michael Shaw)
22 Mar-04:20:41 Re: the mim museum in beirut, lebanon (Mim Museum)
21 Mar-22:49:19 Re: green seam. Looks like it in a state of decay. (Ning)
21 Mar-22:47:40 Re: green seam. Looks like it in a state of decay. (Ning)
21 Mar-22:45:25 Re: green seam. Looks like it in a state of decay. (Ning)
21 Mar-15:34:23 Re: the mizunaka collection - quartz (Am Mizunaka)
21 Mar-14:35:08 Re: jim’s mineral collection (Jim Wilkinson)
21 Mar-14:15:36 The 4th phoenix heritage mineral show (phms) hosted by mineralogical society of arizona (m (Chris Whitney-smith)
21 Mar-04:36:10 Re: the mizunaka collection (Tobi)
21 Mar-04:11:47 Re: jim’s mineral collection (James Catmur)
20 Mar-23:34:15 The mizunaka collection - quartz (Am Mizunaka)
20 Mar-18:13:16 Re: jim’s mineral collection (Jim Wilkinson)

For lists of newest topics and postings click here


RSS RSS

View unanswered posts

Why and how to register

Index Index
 FAQFAQ RegisterRegister  Log inLog in
 {Forgotten your password?}Forgotten your password?  

Like
111802


The time now is Mar 28, 2024 09:52

Search for a textSearch for a text   

A general guide for using the Forum with some rules and tips
The information provided within this Forum about localities is only given to allow reference to them. Any visit to any of the localities requires you to obtain full permission and relevant information prior to your visit. FMF is strictly against any illicit activities related to collecting minerals.
My recent trip to Namibia.
  
  Index -> Rockhounding trips
Like
52


View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message

Pierre Joubert




Joined: 09 Mar 2012
Posts: 1605
Location: Western Cape


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Oct 23, 2015 03:20    Post subject: My recent trip to Namibia.  

The prime purpose of my recent trip to Namibia was to visit Heimo. We visited the old tin mine at Uis and also the Brandberg area. Please see link of his account of this visit. https://www.mineral-forum.com/message-board/viewtopic.php?t=4494
On the way to Swakopmund, the road passes through Karibib and Usakos and as these two small towns are the center of the Erongo area, I spent a few days here also. Here are a few photos and some of my observations.



P1080511.JPG
 Description:
On the road, somewhere past Springbok, Northern Cape, South Africa.
 Viewed:  34332 Time(s)

P1080511.JPG



P1080526.JPG
 Description:
A hornbill, photographed near Karibib at a roadside rest area.
 Viewed:  34331 Time(s)

P1080526.JPG



P1080531.JPG
 Description:
Hornbills scavaging for food from a drum at a rest area on the side of the road. On the menu was leftovers from pizza.
 Viewed:  34318 Time(s)

P1080531.JPG



P1080544.JPG
 Description:
A new faceting school in Karibib. The government is doing quite a bit to uplift the community.
 Viewed:  34348 Time(s)

P1080544.JPG



P1080543.JPG
 Description:
Teachers and pupils pose for a photo at the above school.
 Viewed:  34302 Time(s)

P1080543.JPG



P1080533.JPG
 Description:
One of the students showed me some of the machines.
 Viewed:  34317 Time(s)

P1080533.JPG



P1080535.JPG
 Description:
 Viewed:  34327 Time(s)

P1080535.JPG



P1080537.JPG
 Description:
 Viewed:  34306 Time(s)

P1080537.JPG



P1080538.JPG
 Description:
 Viewed:  34313 Time(s)

P1080538.JPG



P1080541.JPG
 Description:
Computer room at the school.
 Viewed:  34323 Time(s)

P1080541.JPG



P1080545.JPG
 Description:
Henckert tourist centre, Karibib. This has been a wonderful place to visit through the years to view mineral specimens and mineral jewelry.
 Viewed:  34435 Time(s)

P1080545.JPG



P1080550.JPG
 Description:
Some friends in Karib. The owner of Henckert tourist centre in the middle.
 Viewed:  34326 Time(s)

P1080550.JPG



_________________
Pierre Joubert


'The tree of silence bears the fruit of peace. '
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
6
   

Pierre Joubert




Joined: 09 Mar 2012
Posts: 1605
Location: Western Cape


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Oct 23, 2015 12:09    Post subject: Re: My recent trip to Namibia.  

A few more photos.


P1080548.JPG
 Description:
Namdeb is a small, very poor, mining community, located a few kilometres from the Neu Scwaben tourmaline mine. The mine is about 25 km from Karibib, on a bad dusty road. Besides tourmaline of all colours, interesting smoky quartz is also found.
 Viewed:  34207 Time(s)

P1080548.JPG



P1080547.JPG
 Description:
This small fellow, busy eating, intrigued me and I got his mom to help pose for a photo at Namdeb.
 Viewed:  34174 Time(s)

P1080547.JPG



P1080549.JPG
 Description:
The road to Namdeb. Do not be fooled; this road is BAD.
 Viewed:  34222 Time(s)

P1080549.JPG



_________________
Pierre Joubert


'The tree of silence bears the fruit of peace. '
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
3
   

Pierre Joubert




Joined: 09 Mar 2012
Posts: 1605
Location: Western Cape


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Oct 24, 2015 12:13    Post subject: Re: My recent trip to Namibia.  

Here are a few more pictures; after that I would like to wrap up with some observations and show some specimens purchased from this trip.


P1080555.JPG
 Description:
A photo taken just after sunset. I slept a night out in the desert. Note Spitzkoppe in the background.
 Viewed:  34042 Time(s)

P1080555.JPG



P1080560.JPG
 Description:
A typical smallminer rock shop. These are usually close to the house and often with no one there. They still trust people but often to their own loss:-(
 Viewed:  34097 Time(s)

P1080560.JPG



P1080565.JPG
 Description:
Spitzkoppe in the distance.
 Viewed:  34056 Time(s)

P1080565.JPG



P1080566.JPG
 Description:
Another view of Spitzkoppe.
 Viewed:  34037 Time(s)

P1080566.JPG



P1080571.JPG
 Description:
There is a neat campsite at Spitzkoppe. I think that this site has it's eyes on the overseas market and is very pricy for locals.
 Viewed:  34018 Time(s)

P1080571.JPG



Panorama Spitzkoppe.JPG
 Description:
A panorama photo of Spitzkoppe. The latter is a reserve, i.a.w., no digging there. The area mined for topaz is roughly SW from Spitzkoppe.
 Viewed:  34033 Time(s)

Panorama Spitzkoppe.JPG



_________________
Pierre Joubert


'The tree of silence bears the fruit of peace. '
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
9
   

Pierre Joubert




Joined: 09 Mar 2012
Posts: 1605
Location: Western Cape


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Nov 02, 2015 11:36    Post subject: Re: My recent trip to Namibia.  

Some comments and observations as well as a few mineral photos from this trip. Areas like Tsumeb, Brandberg, Erongo, Karibib, Kaokoland, and Spitzkoppe, get a lot of attention while there are a number of places with interesting specimens that are seldom heard of because they are off the beaten track. As Namibia is such a large country and with mostly dust roads (some very bad), many of the more remote places are seldom visited and not many of it's specimens are seen. I once met a geologist that showed me some really nice rubies and they came from somewhere in Namibia.
I am one of those that mostly visit the same old places and buy the same old minerals. Hopefully someday, I will have the time (and money) to travel through Namibia and visit all the lesser known places.
Whenever I visit Namibia, I notice that some species are in abundance and others are hard to come by. Last time we where there, the small 'alien' fluorite from Erongo were in abundance; this time round, there were none. Some years, good schorl are few and quite pricy. At the moment, schorl is abundant, fairly cheap and of very good quality.
Most of the top specimens of species are seldom seen at the local markets as they are quickly bought by local dealers that are always on the lookout and small miners take these better specimens to these dealers. I am not complaining, as I cannot afford those anyway :-)



P1090315.JPG
 Mineral: Quartz (variety smoky)
 Locality:
Neuschwaben Farm 73 (Neu Schwaben), Karibib District, Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: 220 x 170 x 85 mm
 Description:
These beautiful quartzes, are a by product of the small miners search for tourmaline.
 Viewed:  33868 Time(s)

P1090315.JPG



P1090318.JPG
 Mineral: Quartz (variety smoky)
 Locality:
Neuschwaben Farm 73 (Neu Schwaben), Karibib District, Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: 160 x 120 x 102 mm
 Description:
 Viewed:  33940 Time(s)

P1090318.JPG



P1090320.JPG
 Mineral: Quartz (variety smoky)
 Locality:
Neuschwaben Farm 73 (Neu Schwaben), Karibib District, Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: 170 x 140 x 95 mm
 Description:
 Viewed:  33914 Time(s)

P1090320.JPG



P1090324.JPG
 Mineral: Quartz (variety smoky)
 Locality:
Erongo Mountain, Usakos, Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: 150 x 95 x 90 mm
 Description:
 Viewed:  33776 Time(s)

P1090324.JPG



P1090326-001.JPG
 Mineral: Quartz (variety smoky)
 Locality:
Erongo Mountain, Usakos, Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: 150 x 95 x 90 mm
 Description:
Same as above.
 Viewed:  33780 Time(s)

P1090326-001.JPG



P1090328.JPG
 Mineral: Schorl
 Locality:
Erongo Mountain, Usakos, Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: 90 x 62 x 22 mm
 Description:
 Viewed:  33828 Time(s)

P1090328.JPG



_________________
Pierre Joubert


'The tree of silence bears the fruit of peace. '
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
11
   

Mike Wood




Joined: 16 Dec 2010
Posts: 456
Location: Northern England


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Nov 02, 2015 16:25    Post subject: Re: My recent trip to Namibia.  

Hi Pierre, thank you for sharing your Namibia trip with us, nice scenery and nice specimens! I rather like the Erongo smoky quartz specimen - such a variety of crystal forms :-)
_________________
Rock basher
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
   

Pierre Joubert




Joined: 09 Mar 2012
Posts: 1605
Location: Western Cape


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Nov 03, 2015 02:56    Post subject: Re: My recent trip to Namibia.  

Hi Mike. Thank you for the comments. I did not mention that I had great difficulty getting my export permit, even though I did everything right. Was it not for a geologist working at the same building, I would still have been there. As far as I am concerned, the problem is incompetence. Best regards.


P1090332.JPG
 Mineral: Schorl and Quartz (variety smoky)
 Locality:
Erongo Mountain, Usakos, Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: 80 x 69 x 47 mm
 Description:
 Viewed:  33672 Time(s)

P1090332.JPG



P1090333.JPG
 Mineral: Schorl and Quartz (variety smoky)
 Locality:
Erongo Mountain, Usakos, Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: 80 x 69 x 47 mm
 Description:
Same as above.
 Viewed:  33637 Time(s)

P1090333.JPG



P1090343.JPG
 Mineral: Quartz
 Locality:
Erongo Mountain, Usakos, Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: 52 x 30 x 18 mm
 Description:
This Quartz specimen is far too special for a poor photographer like me.
 Viewed:  33677 Time(s)

P1090343.JPG



P1090347.JPG
 Mineral: Quartz (variiety citrine)
 Locality:
Erongo Mountain, Usakos, Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: 22 x 17 x 08 mm
 Description:
A new find. Quartz (variiety citrine) with smoky phanthom.
 Viewed:  33713 Time(s)

P1090347.JPG



P1090352.JPG
 Mineral: Opal (variety hyalite)
 Locality:
Erongo Mountain, Usakos, Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: 25 x 19 x 12 mm
 Description:
 Viewed:  33676 Time(s)

P1090352.JPG



P1090357.JPG
 Mineral: Opal (variety hyalite)
 Locality:
Erongo Mountain, Usakos, Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: 61 x 58 x 47 mm
 Description:
 Viewed:  33685 Time(s)

P1090357.JPG



P1090360.JPG
 Mineral: Opal (variety hyalite)
 Locality:
Erongo Mountain, Usakos, Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: 61 x 58 x 47 mm
 Description:
Same as above.
 Viewed:  33747 Time(s)

P1090360.JPG



_________________
Pierre Joubert


'The tree of silence bears the fruit of peace. '
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
5
   

Pierre Joubert




Joined: 09 Mar 2012
Posts: 1605
Location: Western Cape


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Nov 04, 2015 06:47    Post subject: Re: My recent trip to Namibia.  

And a few more pictures of minerals.


P1090362.JPG
 Mineral: Fluorapatite (Apatite Group)
 Locality:
Erongo Region, Namibia
 Description:
up to about 15 mm
 Viewed:  33504 Time(s)

P1090362.JPG



P1090366.JPG
 Mineral: Fluorapatite (Apatite Group)
 Locality:
Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: 15 x 08 x 07 mm
 Description:
 Viewed:  33470 Time(s)

P1090366.JPG



P1090354.JPG
 Mineral: Beryl (variety aquamarine)
 Locality:
Erongo Mountain, Usakos, Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: 64 x 39 x 16 mm
 Description:
An unusual aquamarine specimen.
 Viewed:  33509 Time(s)

P1090354.JPG



P1090355.JPG
 Mineral: Beryl (variety aquamarine)
 Locality:
Erongo Mountain, Usakos, Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: 64 x 39 x 16 mm
 Description:
The other side of the above specimen.
 Viewed:  33521 Time(s)

P1090355.JPG



P1090368.JPG
 Mineral: Andradite (variety demantoid)
 Locality:
Erongo Mountain, Usakos, Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: crystals up to 6mm
 Description:
 Viewed:  33494 Time(s)

P1090368.JPG



P1090374.JPG
 Mineral: Topaz
 Locality:
Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: Longest 28 x 09 x 08 mm
 Description:
Nice topaz crystals are hard to find.
 Viewed:  33505 Time(s)

P1090374.JPG



P1090376.JPG
 Mineral: Beryl (variety aquamarine) with schorl
 Locality:
Erongo Mountain, Usakos, Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: up to about 25 mm long.
 Description:
 Viewed:  33487 Time(s)

P1090376.JPG



P1090378.JPG
 Mineral: Beryl (variety aquamarine) with schorl
 Locality:
Erongo Mountain, Usakos, Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: up to about 22 mm
 Description:
There were quite of an abundance of small aquas this time round, especially these heavily included small crystals.
 Viewed:  33452 Time(s)

P1090378.JPG



_________________
Pierre Joubert


'The tree of silence bears the fruit of peace. '
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
6
   

Pierre Joubert




Joined: 09 Mar 2012
Posts: 1605
Location: Western Cape


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Nov 05, 2015 09:39    Post subject: Re: My recent trip to Namibia.  

A few more specimens.


P1090384.JPG
 Mineral: Beryl (variety goshenite) on Quartz.
 Locality:
Erongo Mountain, Usakos, Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: 27 x 19 x 16 mm
 Description:
There was an abundance of these little goshenites and I love them. They have multiple generation growths and a pearly appearance.
 Viewed:  33360 Time(s)

P1090384.JPG



P1090388.JPG
 Mineral: Beryl (goshenite) on Schorl.
 Locality:
Erongo Mountain, Usakos, Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: 26 x 16 x 14 mm
 Description:
 Viewed:  33364 Time(s)

P1090388.JPG



P1090389.JPG
 Mineral: Beryl (goshenite) on Schorl.
 Locality:
Erongo Mountain, Usakos, Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: 33 x 30 x 22 mm
 Description:
 Viewed:  33365 Time(s)

P1090389.JPG



P1090393.JPG
 Mineral: Beryl (goshenite) on Schorl.
 Locality:
Erongo Mountain, Usakos, Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: 24 x 22 x 15 mm
 Description:
Typical of these goshenites is the fascinating terminations; mostly double terminated.
 Viewed:  33392 Time(s)

P1090393.JPG



P1090407.JPG
 Mineral: Quartz
 Locality:
Erongo Mountain, Usakos, Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: 69 x 26 x 18 mm
 Description:
Quartz from a new find at Erongo mountains. Some of these have amethyst and smoky colouring.
 Viewed:  33403 Time(s)

P1090407.JPG



P1090409.JPG
 Mineral: Quartz with Schorl
 Locality:
Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: 105 x 32 x 16 mm
 Description:
Quartz from a new find.
 Viewed:  33332 Time(s)

P1090409.JPG



P1090470.JPG
 Mineral: Andradite (variety demantoid)
 Locality:
Erongo Mountain, Usakos, Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: 47 x 33 x 18 mm
 Description:
 Viewed:  33332 Time(s)

P1090470.JPG



_________________
Pierre Joubert


'The tree of silence bears the fruit of peace. '
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
3
   

Pierre Joubert




Joined: 09 Mar 2012
Posts: 1605
Location: Western Cape


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Nov 06, 2015 09:54    Post subject: Re: My recent trip to Namibia.  

I am concluding with 2 Brandberg specimens and an Erongo smoky quartz with unknown inclusions.


P1100064.JPG
 Mineral: Quartz
 Locality:
Brandberg area, Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: 140 x 48 x 41 mm
 Description:
 Viewed:  33281 Time(s)

P1100064.JPG



P1100074.JPG
 Mineral: Quartz (variety amethyst)
 Locality:
Brandberg area, Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: 65 x 16 x 13 mm
 Description:
 Viewed:  33311 Time(s)

P1100074.JPG



P1090434.JPG
 Mineral: Quartz (variety smoky) with unknown inclusions.
 Locality:
Erongo Mountain, Usakos, Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: 90 x 36 x 30 mm
 Description:
The small miners pointed out to me that some of the smoky quartz crystals contained unknown mineral inclusions. Here is one of them.
 Viewed:  33280 Time(s)

P1090434.JPG



P1090423.JPG
 Mineral: Quartz with unknown inclusions.
 Locality:
Erongo Mountain, Usakos, Erongo Region, Namibia
 Dimensions: approx. 5 mm
 Description:
Here is the best close up of the inclusion.
 Viewed:  33270 Time(s)

P1090423.JPG



_________________
Pierre Joubert


'The tree of silence bears the fruit of peace. '
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
6
   

Don Lum




Joined: 03 Sep 2012
Posts: 2854
Location: Arkansas


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Nov 06, 2015 12:46    Post subject: Re: My recent trip to Namibia.  

Pierre,

I have really enjoyed your report and pictures from your recent trip to Namibia. I particularly like your schorl and smoky quartz, P1090332.JPG.

Regards,

Don

_________________
hogwild
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
   

Pierre Joubert




Joined: 09 Mar 2012
Posts: 1605
Location: Western Cape


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Nov 06, 2015 14:21    Post subject: Re: My recent trip to Namibia.  

Don Lum wrote:
Pierre,

I have really enjoyed your report and pictures from your recent trip to Namibia. I particularly like your schorl and smoky quartz, P1090332.JPG.

Regards,

Don


Thank you Don; and I loved sharing it. Best regards, also to Gwen.

_________________
Pierre Joubert


'The tree of silence bears the fruit of peace. '
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
   

Mike Wood




Joined: 16 Dec 2010
Posts: 456
Location: Northern England


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Nov 08, 2015 09:50    Post subject: Re: My recent trip to Namibia.  

Thanks Pierre for your report on your field trip to Namibia, it looks an interesting Country. The photo's are great and I really like your last three large quartz specimens and the andradite garnet also.
Best regards, Mike :-)

_________________
Rock basher
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
2
   

Pierre Joubert




Joined: 09 Mar 2012
Posts: 1605
Location: Western Cape


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Nov 08, 2015 12:39    Post subject: Re: My recent trip to Namibia.  

Mike Wood wrote:
Thanks Pierre for your report on your field trip to Namibia, it looks an interesting Country. The photo's are great and I really like your last three large quartz specimens and the andradite garnet also.
Best regards, Mike :-)


Hi Mike. Thank you for your kind comment. It is as I said: you need a looong holiday to explore this amazing country. Best regards.

_________________
Pierre Joubert


'The tree of silence bears the fruit of peace. '
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
1
   

Clifford Trebilcock




Joined: 14 Mar 2014
Posts: 12
Location: Phippsburg, Maine


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Dec 13, 2015 16:34    Post subject: Re: My recent trip to Namibia.  

Hi Pierre,

Thanks for your interesting trip report. The black unidentified crystal inclusions in the quartz
crystal you asked about appear to be hematite crystals. Inclusions in quartz are one of my favorites.

Thanks,

Cliff
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
   

Matt_Zukowski
Site Admin



Joined: 10 Apr 2009
Posts: 707
Location: Alaska


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Dec 13, 2015 19:40    Post subject: Re: My recent trip to Namibia.  

The banded apatite (P1090366.JPG) looks interesting to me.

1) Does the banding tell us that it began as a tabular xtal and then grew along the c-axis and not the a-axes, adding material with varying amounts of impurities that add color?

2) Is there some sort of inclusion or void feature that runs along the c-axis?

Apatite is such a cool mineral (or group)!
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
   

Pierre Joubert




Joined: 09 Mar 2012
Posts: 1605
Location: Western Cape


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Dec 14, 2015 02:18    Post subject: Re: My recent trip to Namibia.  

Clifford Trebilcock wrote:
Hi Pierre,

Thanks for your interesting trip report. The black unidentified crystal inclusions in the quartz
crystal you asked about appear to be hematite crystals. Inclusions in quartz are one of my favorites.

Thanks,

Cliff


Hi Clifford, thank you for your interest. I also though that the black inclusion is hematite. The small miners pointed it out to me as they have not seen this before in the smoky quartz from Erongo. The include small hematite? crystals are so perfect and well formed.

_________________
Pierre Joubert


'The tree of silence bears the fruit of peace. '
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
   

Pierre Joubert




Joined: 09 Mar 2012
Posts: 1605
Location: Western Cape


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Dec 14, 2015 02:21    Post subject: Re: My recent trip to Namibia.  

Matt_Zukowski wrote:
The banded apatite (P1090366.JPG) looks interesting to me.

1) Does the banding tell us that it began as a tabular xtal and then grew along the c-axis and not the a-axes, adding material with varying amounts of impurities that add color?

2) Is there some sort of inclusion or void feature that runs along the c-axis?

Apatite is such a cool mineral (or group)!


Hi Matt, I understand that apatite is not a rare mineral from the Erongo region. However, I have never encountered it on my buying trips. It is indeed a strange banding. Unfortunately my knowledge is far to poor to answer your questions. Regards.

_________________
Pierre Joubert


'The tree of silence bears the fruit of peace. '
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
   

John Jaszczak




Joined: 05 Oct 2010
Posts: 300
Location: Hancock, MI


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Dec 21, 2015 17:55    Post subject: Re: My recent trip to Namibia.  

The unknown inclusions also look like they could be graphite. Superb graphite crystals in quartz crystals have been coming from Merelani. The quartz morphology for those bearing graphite crystals tend to be Herkimer-diamond-like, however. Your inclusions are close enough to the surface that it may be possible to ID them with Raman. Thanks for posting.
- John
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
   

Pierre Joubert




Joined: 09 Mar 2012
Posts: 1605
Location: Western Cape


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Dec 22, 2015 01:43    Post subject: Re: My recent trip to Namibia.  

John Jaszczak wrote:
The unknown inclusions also look like they could be graphite. Superb graphite crystals in quartz crystals have been coming from Merelani. The quartz morphology for those bearing graphite crystals tend to be Herkimer-diamond-like, however. Your inclusions are close enough to the surface that it may be possible to ID them with Raman. Thanks for posting.
- John


Hi John, Thank you for your comment. Sometime in January, I will sit down and attempt to take some more photos of this mineral and post it for possible identification. Best regards

_________________
Pierre Joubert


'The tree of silence bears the fruit of peace. '
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
   
Display posts from previous:   
   Index -> Rockhounding trips   All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1
    

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum


All pictures, text, design © Forum FMF 2006-2024


Powered by FMF