Provenite

Moanda Mine (Bangombe Plateau)

MineActiveDraft data

1.5667° S, 13.2000° E · ± 10 km

Rhodochrosite from Haut-Ogooué, Gabon, with photos of specimens from this locality.

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Minerals found here

Rhodochrosite

Rhodochrosite at Moanda Mine (Bangombe Plateau)

Gemmy rhodochrosite microcrystals scattered on sparkly manganite ore from the Moanda Mine, Gabon.
Gemmy rhodochrosite microcrystals scattered on sparkly manganite ore from the Moanda Mine, Gabon.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
A two-sided crust of dark cherry-red rhodochrosite scalenohedra to 6 mm in massive manganite, Moanda Mine.
A two-sided crust of dark cherry-red rhodochrosite scalenohedra to 6 mm in massive manganite, Moanda Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Light red scalenohedral rhodochrosite crystals on black manganese oxide matrix, Moanda Mine.
Light red scalenohedral rhodochrosite crystals on black manganese oxide matrix, Moanda Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
MnCO₃
Morphology
Scalenohedral microcrystals and crusts on manganese oxide (manganite) matrix; some crystals doubly terminated
Typical size
Crystals to about 6 mm
Color / luster
Light red to dark cherry-red and reddish brown; gemmy, lustrous
Associated minerals
Manganite
Availability
Scarce

Sources: SRC-882 SRC-883 SRC-884

About Rhodochrosite →

Geology of the locality

Setting
Manganese ore deposit on the Bangombe Plateau, worked by COMILOG.
Region
Haut-Ogooué
Country
Gabon

Coordinates are those of Moanda town (Wikipedia); the mine is on the plateau next to the town, hence +/- 10 km.

Sources: SRC-879

Sources

  1. SRC-879 · Website
    Moanda, GabonWikipedia contributors · Wikipedia
  2. SRC-882 · Website
    File:Rhodochrosite-184785.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons (dealer label)
  3. SRC-883 · Website
    File:Rhodochrosite-41810.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons (dealer label)
  4. SRC-884 · Website
    File:Rhodochrosite-54413.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons (dealer label)

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.