The N’tola Mine is an important historic copper locality located within the highly mineralized Mindouli District of the Republic of the Congo, a region known for extensive copper, lead, and zinc deposits hosted within ancient carbonate formations. Mining throughout the greater Mindouli area began during the era of French colonial administration, with exploration and extraction increasing considerably from the late 1940s through the 1960s as numerous small deposits along the limestone ridge near Mindouli were developed. The N’tola workings were among these operations and became recognized for producing oxidized copper ores, particularly attracting attention from mineral collectors for exceptional dioptase specimens. In addition to dioptase, the locality has also yielded notable occurrences of dolomite, duftite, and mimetite, contributing to its reputation as a significant mineral specimen source.
Featured here is a specimen of dioptase with dolomite and mimetite. Richly colored dioptase crystals preferentially coat the matrix with slight manganese oxides. Small yellow mimetite crystals scatter throughout the dolomite druze. The overall aesthetics are great for this small cabinet specimen. Some damage is present among the dioptase, as commonly is for larger tsumeb material. Crudely formatted on the back, likely from mining. The specimen comes affixed to an acrylic base by hot glue.
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(3.9 × 2.4 × 2.5 in - 9.9 × 6.1 × 6.3 cm) 14.5oz / 411g
ORDERS SHIP MONDAYS
The N’tola Mine is an important historic copper locality located within the highly mineralized Mindouli District of the Republic of the Congo, a region known for extensive copper, lead, and zinc deposits hosted within ancient carbonate formations. Mining throughout the greater Mindouli area began during the era of French colonial administration, with exploration and extraction increasing considerably from the late 1940s through the 1960s as numerous small deposits along the limestone ridge near Mindouli were developed. The N’tola workings were among these operations and became recognized for producing oxidized copper ores, particularly attracting attention from mineral collectors for exceptional dioptase specimens. In addition to dioptase, the locality has also yielded notable occurrences of dolomite, duftite, and mimetite, contributing to its reputation as a significant mineral specimen source.
Featured here is a specimen of dioptase with dolomite and mimetite. Richly colored dioptase crystals preferentially coat the matrix with slight manganese oxides. Small yellow mimetite crystals scatter throughout the dolomite druze. The overall aesthetics are great for this small cabinet specimen. Some damage is present among the dioptase, as commonly is for larger tsumeb material. Crudely formatted on the back, likely from mining. The specimen comes affixed to an acrylic base by hot glue.
Thank you so much for viewing! Please message for any further information
(3.9 × 2.4 × 2.5 in - 9.9 × 6.1 × 6.3 cm) 14.5oz / 411g
ORDERS SHIP MONDAYS
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