Provenite

Erongo Mountain

AreaUnknownDraft data

21.6667° S, 15.6667° E · ± 10 km

Aquamarine, Beryl, Microcline and Smoky quartz from Erongo, Namibia, with photos of specimens from this locality.

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Minerals found here

AquamarineBerylMicroclineSmoky quartz

On the same specimen

Same specimen Quartz with Microcline

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show microcline with quartz together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Fluorite with Microcline

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show microcline with fluorite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Aquamarine at Erongo Mountain

Large aquamarine crystal about 8 cm across from the Erongo Mountain, Namibia.
Large aquamarine crystal about 8 cm across from the Erongo Mountain, Namibia.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Cluster of light blue aquamarine crystals with gemmy terminations from the Erongo Mountain, Namibia.
Cluster of light blue aquamarine crystals with gemmy terminations from the Erongo Mountain, Namibia.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Aquamarine crystals up to 3.7 cm with schorl, microcline and albite from the Erongo Mountain, Namibia.
Aquamarine crystals up to 3.7 cm with schorl, microcline and albite from the Erongo Mountain, Namibia.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Sprays of light blue aquamarine crystals up to 3 cm with schorl from the Erongo Mountain, Namibia.
Sprays of light blue aquamarine crystals up to 3 cm with schorl from the Erongo Mountain, Namibia.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Complete, gemmy aquamarine crystal of 1.8 cm on matrix from the Erongo Mountain, Namibia.
Complete, gemmy aquamarine crystal of 1.8 cm on matrix from the Erongo Mountain, Namibia.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈
Morphology
Light blue hexagonal prisms, single or in sprays and clusters, sometimes doubly terminated, partly gemmy
Typical size
Crystals mostly 1.5-4 cm; specimens about 3-10 cm
Color / luster
Light to medium blue, high vitreous luster
Associated minerals
Schorlmicroclinealbite
Availability
Unknown

Sources: SRC-736

About Aquamarine →

Beryl at Erongo Mountain

Doubly terminated blue beryl crystal with black schorl from Erongo Mountain, Namibia.
Doubly terminated blue beryl crystal with black schorl from Erongo Mountain, Namibia.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Clear, doubly terminated beryl crystal cluster on matrix from Erongo Mountain, Namibia.
Clear, doubly terminated beryl crystal cluster on matrix from Erongo Mountain, Namibia.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Colourless beryl (goshenite) crystals from Erongo Mountain, Namibia.
Colourless beryl (goshenite) crystals from Erongo Mountain, Namibia.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Thick yellow-brown beryl (heliodor) crystal from Erongo Mountain, Namibia.
Thick yellow-brown beryl (heliodor) crystal from Erongo Mountain, Namibia.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Gemmy yellow-green heliodor crystal with etched prism faces from Erongo Mountain, Namibia.
Gemmy yellow-green heliodor crystal with etched prism faces from Erongo Mountain, Namibia.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈
Morphology
Doubly terminated and thick prismatic crystals
Typical size
Miniature examples about 3-4 cm
Color / luster
Rich blue-aqua with glassy luster
Associated minerals
Feldsparschorl

Sources: SRC-274

About Beryl →

Microcline at Erongo Mountain

Sharp mostly white microcline crystals with light blue amazonite patches, Erongo.
Sharp mostly white microcline crystals with light blue amazonite patches, Erongo.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Large microcline twin with prismatic microcline, quartz and fluorite, Erongo.
Large microcline twin with prismatic microcline, quartz and fluorite, Erongo.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
KAlSi₃O₈
Morphology
Prismatic crystals and large twins
Typical size
Specimens about 6 to 8 cm
Color / luster
Mostly white, with isolated light blue (amazonite) blushes
Associated minerals
Quartzfluorite
Twins
Twinned crystals over 5 cm
Availability
Unknown

Sources: SRC-584

About Microcline →

Smoky quartz at Erongo Mountain

Floater cluster of smoky quartz crystals ranging from prismatic to tabular, labelled Erongo Mountain.
Floater cluster of smoky quartz crystals ranging from prismatic to tabular, labelled Erongo Mountain.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Spray of clear smoky quartz crystals, labelled Erongo Mountain.
Spray of clear smoky quartz crystals, labelled Erongo Mountain.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Three glassy smoky quartz crystals rising from a mica matrix, labelled Erongo Mountain.
Three glassy smoky quartz crystals rising from a mica matrix, labelled Erongo Mountain.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
SiO₂
Morphology
Clusters, sprays and single crystals, some doubly terminated or tabular
Typical size
Photographed specimens 5 to 10 cm
Color / luster
Smoky, often glassy and gemmy; colour sometimes confined to bands or zones
Associated minerals
Feldsparmuscoviteopalschorlaquamarine
Availability
Unknown
History
Specimens dug from many small diggings by local and overseas collectors

Sources: SRC-433 SRC-444

About Smoky quartz →

Geology of the locality

Setting
Erongo Mountain in the Usakos and Omaruru districts; specimens on the photo pages are aquamarine crystals on feldspar with black schorl.
Region
Erongo
Country
Namibia

Locality wording taken from the file pages of the photos. No second source for beryl here was opened. Coordinates left empty because no source opened for this task gave them. Coordinates: Approximate centre of Erongo Mountain (Mindat locality 'Erongo Mountain, Karibib, Erongo Region'), given to the nearest arc-minute; the complex is roughly 35 km across, so individual pegmatites and farms lie within about 20 km of this point. Coordinates: Approximate centre of Erongo Mountain (Mindat locality 'Erongo Mountain, Karibib, Erongo Region'), given to the nearest arc-minute; the complex is roughly 35 km across, so individual pegmatites and farms lie within about 20 km of this point. Coordinates: Approximate centre of Erongo Mountain (Mindat locality 'Erongo Mountain, Karibib, Erongo Region'), given to the nearest arc-minute; the complex is roughly 35 km across, so individual pegmatites and farms lie within about 20 km of this point.

Sources: SRC-274 SRC-306

Sources

  1. SRC-274 · Website
    File:Beryl-aqu08c.jpg - Wikimedia Commons (read via mirror)Wikimedia Commons (file page; photo by Robert M. Lavinsky) · 2010 · Wikimedia Commons
  2. SRC-306 · Website
    Erongo Mountain, Karibib, Erongo Region, Namibia - Mindat
  3. SRC-736 · Website
    File:Beryl-118637.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons
  4. SRC-584 · Website
    File:Microcline-Quartz-Fluorite-117635.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons
  5. SRC-433 · Article
    Erongo (geological heritage / mineral collecting leaflet)Ministry of Mines and Energy, Namibia · Ministry of Mines and Energy, Namibia
  6. SRC-444 · Website
    File:Quartz-168650.jpg and related Erongo files (Robert M. Lavinsky)Wikimedia Commons · Wikimedia Commons

Draft data from the Provenite workbook. Check entries against the cited sources before relying on them. Photos are open-licence images from Wikimedia Commons; the author and licence are given with each photo.