Browsing Archive: March, 2017

New Barite Occurrence at Rosh Pinah Mine – Namibia

Posted by Site Moderator Webmaster on Saturday, March 25, 2017, In : Mineral of the Month

Author: Gisela Hinder, Rosh Pinah Geo Center, Rosh Pinah, Namibia

Rosh Pinah Mine is situated in the southwest of Namibia about 80 km east of Oranjemund. Rosh Pinah Mine became well known for its beautiful barites when a massive pocket of yellow to orange barite crystals was opened in 1989. It is said that these barites were the best ever found in Namibia.

In February 2017 new barite crystals were discovered at Rosh Pinah. Yellowish, unfortunately smallish, ...

GARNET

Posted by Site Moderator Webmaster on Saturday, March 25, 2017,

Duncan Miller

Garnets are among the easiest gem materials to facet. They have no distinct cleavage, although some crystals have a parting that causes them to fracture into thin slabs. The rough often is in globular shapes, which is good for weight recovery. When choosing rough, avoid being fooled by fake material. Red glass is sometimes covered in adhering deceptive ‘grit’ to mimic natural nodules. Illuminated from behind or the side with a torch, the characteristic internal swirls and r...

A Bit about Blue Lace Chalcedony

Posted by Site Moderator Webmaster on Saturday, March 25, 2017, In : Mineral of the Month

Jo Wicht

Blue Lace “Agate” is found on the farm Ysterputs 254 (meaning iron holes) in Namibia. The mine is located adjacent to the “Blinkpan” (shining shallow lake) which can be seen to the west of the B1 highway about 80 km north of Vioolsdrift and Noordoewer, which are the border towns on either side of the Orange River between South African and Namibia.

Blue lace is not a true agate, but a chalcedony (microcrystalline quartz) laid down in a series of wavy bands, which gives it th...

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Browsing Archive: March, 2017

New Barite Occurrence at Rosh Pinah Mine – Namibia

GARNET

A Bit about Blue Lace Chalcedony

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