Provenite

Goboboseb Mountains

AreaUnknownDraft data

21.1258° S, 14.5487° E · Region only

Amethyst, Citrine and Smoky quartz from Erongo, Namibia, with photos of specimens from this locality.

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Minerals found here

AmethystCitrineSmoky quartz

Amethyst at Goboboseb Mountains

Multi-zoned crystals combining clear, smoky and amethyst sectors, hosted in basalt

Amethyst crystals up to 4.5 cm in a calcite-lined cavity on matrix.
Amethyst crystals up to 4.5 cm in a calcite-lined cavity on matrix.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Scepter-shaped amethyst and smoky quartz crystal, about 8 cm long, from the Goboboseb Mountains, Brandberg area, Namibia.
Scepter-shaped amethyst and smoky quartz crystal, about 8 cm long, from the Goboboseb Mountains, Brandberg area, Namibia.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Three small amethyst scepter crystals, each roughly an inch tall, from the Goboboseb Mountains in Namibia.
Three small amethyst scepter crystals, each roughly an inch tall, from the Goboboseb Mountains in Namibia.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Smoky quartz scepter on an amethyst stem, about 7 cm, from the Goboboseb Mountains in Namibia.
Smoky quartz scepter on an amethyst stem, about 7 cm, from the Goboboseb Mountains in Namibia.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
SiO₂
Morphology
Sharp crystals, including doubly terminated floaters, scepters and reverse scepters
Color / luster
Clear, smoky and amethyst zones often in one crystal (for example clear, smoky, purple, clear at the tip)
Associated minerals
Hematite (red dust, platelets or veils)
History
Much quartz sold as Brandberg material is reported to come from Goboboseb; matrix specimens are scarcer than loose crystals

Sources: SRC-111

About Amethyst →

Citrine at Goboboseb Mountains

Smoky quartz sceptre on a citrine-coloured shaft from the Goboboseb Mountains, 9.2 cm.
Smoky quartz sceptre on a citrine-coloured shaft from the Goboboseb Mountains, 9.2 cm.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Smoky quartz sceptre on a citrine-coloured stalk from the Goboboseb Mountains, 7.75 cm.
Smoky quartz sceptre on a citrine-coloured stalk from the Goboboseb Mountains, 7.75 cm.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
SiO₂
Morphology
Smoky quartz sceptres on citrine-coloured shafts
Typical size
Specimens roughly 8-9 cm
Color / luster
Citrine-coloured stalk with smoky quartz terminations

Sources: SRC-463 SRC-457

About Citrine →

Smoky quartz at Goboboseb Mountains

Smoky quartz and amethyst, sometimes combined as smoky phantoms in amethyst, from cavities in volcanic rock.

Solid smoky quartz specimen with sceptred, hoppered skeletal growth.
Solid smoky quartz specimen with sceptred, hoppered skeletal growth.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Cluster of sharp transparent smoky quartz crystals, labelled Goboboseb Mountains.
Cluster of sharp transparent smoky quartz crystals, labelled Goboboseb Mountains.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Doubly terminated smoky quartz cluster with colour zoning, labelled Goboboseb Mountains.
Doubly terminated smoky quartz cluster with colour zoning, labelled Goboboseb Mountains.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Water-clear smoky quartz crystal containing a movable bubble, labelled Goboboseb Mountains.
Water-clear smoky quartz crystal containing a movable bubble, labelled Goboboseb Mountains.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
SiO₂
Morphology
Crystals mined from cavities in basalt, in places as scepters; smoky phantoms occur inside amethyst crystals
Typical size
A documented example is a crystal 3 cm tall
Trace elements
Aluminium-related colour centres produced by natural irradiation (general for the variety, not locality-specific)
History
A 2002 article in Mineralien-Welt reported new amethyst and smoky quartz finds from the range.

Sources: SRC-137 SRC-138

About Smoky quartz →

Geology of the locality

Setting
Silica-rich fluids grew quartz in cavities of amygdaloidal basalt flows of the Etendeka volcanic province
Host rock
Basalt
Region
Erongo
Country
Namibia

Coordinates are those of Brandberg Mountain (Wikipedia); Goboboseb lies west of it, so the position is only regional. Digging at Brandberg itself is reported as prohibited.

Sources: SRC-111 SRC-112

Sources

  1. SRC-111 · Website
    Quartz from Goboboseb Mountains, NamibiaEarth Wonders (dealer)
  2. SRC-112 · Website
    Brandberg MountainWikipedia
  3. SRC-463 · Website
    File:Quartz-180786.jpg (Wikimedia Commons)Robert M. Lavinsky (photographer) · Wikimedia Commons
  4. SRC-457 · Database
    Goboboseb Mountains, Brandberg Area, Erongo Region, Namibia (locality entry)Mindat contributors · Mindat.org
  5. SRC-137 · Database
    Goboboseb Mountains, Brandberg Area, Daures Constituency, Erongo Region, NamibiaMindat.org contributors · Mindat.org
  6. SRC-138 · Database
    Photo record K3L-AR7: Quartz var. Amethyst, Goboboseb MountainsMindat.org contributors · Mindat.org

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.