Namibia

Specimens from Namibia prior to 1968 may be recorded as ‘South-West Africa’, ‘German South West Africa’, or ‘Deutsch-Südwestafrika‘. Parts of South West Africa were administed by South Africa until 1990, so it is possible specimens may be labelled South Africa.

South Africa is recorded as the type locality for over a hundred minerals, most of which are relatively uncommon, and some are single locale minerals.

The country produces a range of fine mineral specimens, and has some exceptional locales which will be well known amongst collectors.

By far the best known locale in the country is Tsumeb Mine, in the Oshikoto region. Tsumeb mine alone provided nearly 350 species of minerals, including some exceptional specimens and some very rare minerals too – it was the type locality for 75. Malachite, Azurite, and Diopside from this locale are exceptional.

The Erongo Mountains are another well known locale, producing fine specimens of aquamarine, fluorite, hyalite opal, jeremejevite, schorl.

Brandberg Amethyst is a well known material – typically from the Goboboseb Mountains. Fine Amethyst from this locale often has quality colour zoning, and sometimes rather interesting inclusions, too.

The Okorusu Mine produced excellent specimens of Fluorite with sharp cubic crystals, and deep green, blue, pink and purple colours – in fact, almost all known colours of fluorite are found in this mine.

Otjua Mine in Karibib produced fine specimens of elbaite tourmaline with bright colours, often pink and green.

Further reading

• https://www.mindat.org/loc-10257.html

We do have some more information, and sometimes specimens from specific Namibian locales.

Namibian locales

• Aris Quarries, Aris, Windhoek Rural, Khomas Region, Namibia
• Berg Aukas Mine, Grootfontein Constituency, Otjozondjupa Region, Namibia
• Goanikontes Claim, Goanikontes, Arandis Constituency, Erongo Region, Namibia
• Mile 72, Cape Cross area, Arandis Constituency, Erongo Region, Namibia
• Molopo Mine, Strathmore pegmatites, Cape Cross area, Arandis Constituency, Erongo Region, Namibia
• Okenwasi Mine, Kaokoveld Plateau, Kunene Region, Namibia
• Okorusu Mine, Otjiwarongo Constituency, Otjozondjupa Region, Namibia
• Orange River area, Namibia
• Otuani pit, Opuwo Rural, Kunene Region, Namibia
• Sandamap Farm, Dâures Constituency, Erongo Region, Namibia
• Sodalite mine, Orotumba, Swartbooisdrif Dikes, Epupa, Kunene Region, Namibia
• Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region, Namibia
• Van der Plas Mine, Opuwo Rural, Kunene Region, Namibia

We may have some other specimens from Namibia, check the links below.

Namibia