Berg Aukas is a historic mineral deposit located in northern Namibia, about 40 km south of the town of Grootfontein. Geologically, the deposit is a hydrothermal lead-zinc-vanadium ore body hosted in dolostone of the Neoproterozoic Otavi Group. Mineralization formed when metal-rich fluids moved through fractures and dissolution cavities in the carbonate rocks, depositing sulfide minerals such as galena and sphalerite along with unusual secondary minerals. The mine is especially famous for producing rare vanadium minerals, including the bright red lead vanadate descloizite and other colorful oxidation-zone species that formed when the ore was exposed to weathering.
Mining at Berg Aukas began in 1913 and expanded significantly during the mid-1900s, eventually becoming one of the world’s most important sources of vanadium-bearing minerals. Although commercial mining ceased in 1978, Berg Aukas remains well known among geologists and mineral collectors for its exceptional mineral diversity and specimen quality.
This specimen is a plate of fairly large descloizite crystals clustered together across the matrix. Carrying with it a Colorado Geologic Industries label, which dates between the 1960s and 1980s when the company was actively dealing. The specimen does have some broken crystals unfortunately. Largely, the display area is in good condition, however.
Thank you so much for viewing! Please message for any further information
(3.5 × 3.1 × 2.1 in - 8.9 × 7.8 × 5.3 cm) 10.5oz / 299g
Orders ship Mondays
Berg Aukas is a historic mineral deposit located in northern Namibia, about 40 km south of the town of Grootfontein. Geologically, the deposit is a hydrothermal lead-zinc-vanadium ore body hosted in dolostone of the Neoproterozoic Otavi Group. Mineralization formed when metal-rich fluids moved through fractures and dissolution cavities in the carbonate rocks, depositing sulfide minerals such as galena and sphalerite along with unusual secondary minerals. The mine is especially famous for producing rare vanadium minerals, including the bright red lead vanadate descloizite and other colorful oxidation-zone species that formed when the ore was exposed to weathering.
Mining at Berg Aukas began in 1913 and expanded significantly during the mid-1900s, eventually becoming one of the world’s most important sources of vanadium-bearing minerals. Although commercial mining ceased in 1978, Berg Aukas remains well known among geologists and mineral collectors for its exceptional mineral diversity and specimen quality.
This specimen is a plate of fairly large descloizite crystals clustered together across the matrix. Carrying with it a Colorado Geologic Industries label, which dates between the 1960s and 1980s when the company was actively dealing. The specimen does have some broken crystals unfortunately. Largely, the display area is in good condition, however.
Thank you so much for viewing! Please message for any further information
(3.5 × 3.1 × 2.1 in - 8.9 × 7.8 × 5.3 cm) 10.5oz / 299g
Orders ship Mondays
