Minerals from Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is one of Africa’s most important mineral-rich countries, with a variety of minerals that have long attracted collectors and geologists alike.

The country is well-known for its production of high-quality chrysoprase, a variety of chalcedony, especially from the Mashonaland area. The green, apple-coloured chrysoprase crystals are often smooth and highly lustrous, making them highly sought after in the mineral specimen market.

Zimbabwe is also famous for its deposits of chrome and its related minerals, particularly the excellent chromite specimens found in the Great Dyke. These are typically fine, granular crystals or massive chunks with a metallic black appearance, often accompanied by pyroxenes and other related minerals.

In addition to these, Zimbabwe has also produced world-class specimens of various other minerals, including garnet, particularly pyrope and almandine varieties, from the Umkondo and Midlands regions. These garnets can often be found as well-formed dodecahedral crystals with a deep red colour.

The country also has deposits of fluorite, notably from areas such as the Bindura region, where purple and green fluorite crystals have been found, sometimes with excellent cubic forms. Zimbabwe is also known for producing fine specimens of beryl, especially aquamarine, though these are less common than the more abundant quartz.

While Zimbabwe’s mineral specimens are not as widely marketed as some from other countries in Africa, they are highly valued in the collecting community, especially when they come from classic localities like the Great Dyke or Bindura.

Zimbabwe