Coronadite crystals from the Tsumeb Mine, Otavi Mountains, Namibia – micromount as unique piece
This micromount specimen with Coronadite crystals from the Tsumeb Mine, Otavi Mountains, Namibia displays a compact group of dark gray to black crystal aggregates on a light matrix. The crystals form small rounded to botryoidal aggregates with a metallic to slightly lustrous appearance, a habit that is typical for Coronadite from this locality.
The surface shows numerous closely packed crystal formations that give the specimen a distinctive three dimensional structure. The dark color of the Coronadite crystals contrasts strongly with the lighter matrix, making this micromount specimen particularly appealing for collectors of Tsumeb minerals.
Geology & Origin
The Tsumeb Mine in the Otavi Mountains of Namibia is one of the most important mineral localities in the world and is famous for its extremely complex mineral paragenesis. In the oxidized zone of the deposit, numerous secondary oxide and vanadate minerals formed. Coronadite belongs to the hollandite group of manganese oxides and commonly develops as a secondary mineral in oxidized ore zones where it forms small dark crystal aggregates.