Provenite

Tsumeb Mine

MineClosedDraft data

19.2270° S, 17.7276° E · Exact (< 100 m)

Azurite, Calcite, Chalcopyrite, Dolomite, Enargite, Galena, Malachite, Marcasite, Quartz and Siderite from Oshikoto Region, Namibia, with photos of specimens from this locality.

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Minerals found here

AzuriteCalciteChalcopyriteDolomiteEnargiteGalenaMalachiteMarcasiteQuartzSiderite

On the same specimen

Same specimen Quartz intergrown with Galena

A Tsumeb collection specimen of octahedral galena crystals (to 9 mm) occurs together with quartz and minor dolomite.

Sharp galena octahedra on a Tsumeb specimen carry the prestige of this classic African locality.

Sources: SRC-045

Same specimen Dolomite with Galena

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

Azurite at Tsumeb Mine

Sharp, lustrous midnight-blue crystals, including an unusual tabular habit from the Easter pocket.

Single tabular azurite crystal on matrix from the Easter pocket, Tsumeb.
Single tabular azurite crystal on matrix from the Easter pocket, Tsumeb.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Flower-shaped group of deep blue azurite crystals and rosettes, Tsumeb.
Flower-shaped group of deep blue azurite crystals and rosettes, Tsumeb.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
Cu₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂
Morphology
Tabular crystals, prismatic crystals and flower-shaped rosette groups
Typical size
Crystals to about 2.5 cm in rosette groups; a tabular crystal of 6 cm is recorded from the Easter pocket
Color / luster
Deep royal to midnight blue, lustrous
Associated minerals
Malachitedioptasegoethitequartz
Surface features
Striated terminations; some crystal cores replaced by malachite
History
The Easter pocket yielded the largest fine azurite crystal known from that find; Handbook describes Tsumeb examples as extraordinary

Sources: SRC-228 SRC-234 SRC-239

About Azurite →

Calcite at Tsumeb Mine

Zoned crystals tinted by hematite, and pastel-green copper-bearing calcite, from the Tsumeb mine.

Calcite with clear and reddish-brown hematite zoning, Tsumeb.
Calcite with clear and reddish-brown hematite zoning, Tsumeb.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Pastel-green copper-bearing calcite group, Tsumeb.
Pastel-green copper-bearing calcite group, Tsumeb.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
CaCO₃
Morphology
Small crystals showing color zoning; also pastel-green crystal groups
Typical size
Largest crystal on the photographed zoned specimen about 1 cm; green group about 17 cm across
Color / luster
Clear and reddish-brown zones; pastel green
Trace elements
Included hematite (reddish-brown zones); included copper minerals (green color), as stated on the photo file pages
Availability
No longer available

Sources: SRC-201 SRC-202 SRC-184

About Calcite →

Chalcopyrite at Tsumeb Mine

Chalcopyrite is not among the main primary ore minerals here (bornite, tennantite and chalcocite dominate), and it is reported as a rare host of gold.

Formula
CuFeS₂
Associated minerals
Galenasphalerite
Trace elements
Gold (extremely rare, reported to occur in chalcopyrite)
History
Chalcopyrite formed with galena and sphalerite when acidic metal-bearing fluids reacted with the Precambrian Otavi carbonates; large-scale mining began in 1897 and the mine closed permanently in 1996.

Sources: SRC-041

About Chalcopyrite →

Dolomite at Tsumeb Mine

Thin hollow casts of dolomite left after dissolution of calcite or smithsonite, often in cobaltoan pink

Bright pink cobaltoan dolomite cast after calcite with a sponge-like appearance.
Bright pink cobaltoan dolomite cast after calcite with a sponge-like appearance.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Two-toned hexagonal zincian dolomite crystals on a crust of pale pink dolomite.
Two-toned hexagonal zincian dolomite crystals on a crust of pale pink dolomite.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Thin hollow shell of faintly greenish cuprian dolomite that once coated a calcite crystal.
Thin hollow shell of faintly greenish cuprian dolomite that once coated a calcite crystal.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Hollow dolomite cast with a silky sheen that preserves the bubbly form of former smithsonite.
Hollow dolomite cast with a silky sheen that preserves the bubbly form of former smithsonite.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Plate of salmon-coloured cobaltoan dolomite crystals up to 2.8 cm.
Plate of salmon-coloured cobaltoan dolomite crystals up to 2.8 cm.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
CaMg(CO₃)₂
Morphology
Hollow casts and crusts after calcite and smithsonite; also rhombohedral and hexagonal nail-head crystals
Typical size
Casts several cm to cabinet size; crystals to about 2.8 cm
Color / luster
White, pastel pink to salmon (cobaltoan), pale green (cuprian), powder blue; silky to pearly sheen
Associated minerals
Calcitesmithsonite
Trace elements
Co (cobaltoan), Cu (cuprian), Zn (zincian) varieties reported on labels
Availability
Scarce

Sources: SRC-500 SRC-497 SRC-041 SRC-472

About Dolomite →

Enargite at Tsumeb Mine

Grayish-black enargite crystals on micro pyrite from the Tsumeb Mine.
Grayish-black enargite crystals on micro pyrite from the Tsumeb Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
Cu₃AsS₄
Morphology
Grayish-black orthorhombic crystals on micro-crystalline pyrite
Typical size
Specimen about 3.5 cm
Color / luster
Grayish black, metallic
Associated minerals
Pyrite
Availability
Scarce

Sources: SRC-642 SRC-658

About Enargite →

Galena at Tsumeb Mine

Spinel-twinned galena from a deposit where it is the main primary lead mineral, found with oxidation-zone minerals such as cerussite, anglesite and smithsonite

Silvery-gray galena cuboctahedron on a small Tsumeb specimen.
Silvery-gray galena cuboctahedron on a small Tsumeb specimen.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
String of modified galena dodecahedra to 0.8 cm showing surface iridescence.
String of modified galena dodecahedra to 0.8 cm showing surface iridescence.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Matte-black octahedral galena crystals to 1.2 cm in a vug of massive galena, with pale dolomite.
Matte-black octahedral galena crystals to 1.2 cm in a vug of massive galena, with pale dolomite.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
PbS
Morphology
Cube-octahedron combinations, seldom above 10 mm and occasionally several cm; also massive in peripheral and manto ores; rare pseudomorphs after calcite
Typical size
Mostly under 10 mm
Color / luster
Lead-gray, metallic
Associated minerals
Acanthiteanglesitecerussitechalcopyritedolomitequartzsmithsonitesphaleritewurtzite
Surface features
Striated crystal faces, possibly from lamellar twinning or mechanical deformation
Twins
Spinel twins on {111} are common and highly prized
Trace elements
Silver typically 25-40 ppm, maximum recorded 340 ppm
Availability
Unknown
History
Galena is the most abundant sulfide and main primary lead mineral at Tsumeb, forming a major part of the massive peripheral and manto ores; well-formed crystals are uncommon. Cerussite and rosasite rarely form pseudomorphs after it.

Sources: SRC-042 SRC-045

About Galena →

Malachite at Tsumeb Mine

Malachite specimen from Tsumeb, Namibia, photographed for the Smithsonian collection.
Malachite specimen from Tsumeb, Namibia, photographed for the Smithsonian collection.
Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History · CC0 · Source
Formula
Cu₂(CO₃)(OH)₂

Sources: SRC-213 SRC-224

About Malachite →

Marcasite at Tsumeb Mine

Uncommon marcasite from a carbonate-hosted polymetallic ore pipe; specimens are often regarded as relatively stable

Formula
FeS₂
Morphology
Crystalline sulfide aggregates
Color / luster
Metallic
Associated minerals
Smithsonitechalcocite
Availability
Scarce
History
Historic Tsumeb Mine operated from 1907 until closure in 1996

Sources: SRC-021

About Marcasite →

Quartz at Tsumeb Mine

Formula
SiO₂

Sources: SRC-045

About Quartz →

Siderite at Tsumeb Mine

Golden-brown siderite discs covering a matrix specimen from the Tsumeb Mine.
Golden-brown siderite discs covering a matrix specimen from the Tsumeb Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Golden-brown siderite scalenohedra in a vug in massive chalcocite, Tsumeb Mine.
Golden-brown siderite scalenohedra in a vug in massive chalcocite, Tsumeb Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
FeCO₃
Morphology
Disc-shaped crystals and small scalenohedra
Typical size
Scalenohedra to about 6 mm
Color / luster
Golden-brown, lustrous to gemmy
Associated minerals
Chalcocite
Trace elements
Zinc-rich according to the dealer description
Availability
Scarce
History
Described as a common gangue mineral at Tsumeb, rarely in display quality.

Sources: SRC-608

About Siderite →

Geology of the locality

Setting
Carbonate-hosted Cu-Pb-Zn-Ag-Ge-Cd ore pipe
Type
Hydrothermal
Host rock
Neoproterozoic dolomite
Region
Oshikoto Region
Country
Namibia

Inactive world-famous mine; marcasite is a confirmed but uncommon species.

Sources: SRC-021

Sources

  1. SRC-021 · Database
    Tsumeb Mine, Namibia and marcasite occurrenceMindat.org · Mindat.org
  2. SRC-045 · Museum / collection
    Galena (TSNB139), TsumebHarvard Mineralogical Museum, Tsumeb Mineral Network
  3. SRC-228 · Book
    Handbook of Mineralogy - AzuriteAnthony, J.W.; Bideaux, R.A.; Bladh, K.W.; Nichols, M.C. · 2005 · Mineralogical Society of America
  4. SRC-234 · Museum / collection
    Azurite (w. dioptase), TSNB797, TsumebHarvard Mineralogical and Geological Museum · Harvard University, Mineral Collection Online
  5. SRC-239 · Website
    File:Azurite-18539.jpg and File:Azurite-139246.jpg (Tsumeb)Wikimedia Commons / R. M. Lavinsky · 2010 · Wikimedia Commons (opened via osmand mirror)
  6. SRC-201 · Website
    File:Calcite-155877.jpg (Wikimedia Commons file page)Lavinsky, R.M. (photographer) · 2010 · Wikimedia Commons
  7. SRC-202 · Website
    File:Calcite-18557.jpg (Wikimedia Commons file page)Lavinsky, R.M. (photographer) · 2010 · Wikimedia Commons
  8. SRC-184 · Book
    Handbook of Mineralogy - CalciteAnthony, J.W.; Bideaux, R.A.; Bladh, K.W.; Nichols, M.C. · Mineralogical Society of America
  9. SRC-041 · Website
    Tsumeb Mine and its minerals - Namibia (Le Comptoir Geologique)Le Comptoir Geologique
  10. SRC-500 · Website
    File:Dolomite-187610.jpg (Wikimedia Commons)Robert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons
  11. SRC-497 · Website
    Calcite from Tsumeb Mine (cobaltoan dolomite cast after calcite, specimen record)EarthWonders · EarthWonders
  12. SRC-472 · Website
    Dolomite - Gallery (Minerals.net)Minerals.net · Minerals.net
  13. SRC-642 · Book
    Handbook of Mineralogy - EnargiteAnthony, J.W.; Bideaux, R.A.; Bladh, K.W.; Nichols, M.C. · 2005 · Mineral Data Publishing / Mineralogical Society of America
  14. SRC-658 · Website
    File:Enargite-216724.jpg (Wikimedia Commons)Robert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons
  15. SRC-042 · Book
    Handbook of Mineralogy - GalenaAnthony, J.W.; Bideaux, R.A.; Bladh, K.W.; Nichols, M.C. · Mineralogical Society of America
  16. SRC-213 · Book
    Handbook of Mineralogy - MalachiteAnthony, J.W.; Bideaux, R.A.; Bladh, K.W.; Nichols, M.C. · 2005 · Mineralogical Society of America
  17. SRC-224 · Museum / collection
    Malachite, Tsumeb, Otjikoto, Namibia (NMNH B14193; record nmnhmineralsciences_1130454)Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History · Smithsonian Institution
  18. SRC-608 · Website
    File:Siderite-Chalcocite-173740.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky · 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.