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Berg Aukas Mine, Grootfontein Constituency, Otjozondjupa Region, Namibiai
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Berg Aukas Mine | Mine (Abandoned) |
| Grootfontein Constituency | Constituency |
| Otjozondjupa Region | Region |
| Namibia | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
19° 31' 1'' South , 18° 15' 4'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Mine (Abandoned) - last checked 2020
Deposit first discovered:
1913
KΓΆppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Grootfontein | 24,099 (2014) | 15.1km |
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
Berg Aukus Mine
Zn-Pb-V deposit, discovered in 1913 and mined until 1978.
Famous for excellent and large descloizite crystals.
Chadwick (1993) says descloizite occurs throughout the supergene fraction, and Berg Aukas has been reported as being the world's leading accumulation of this mineral. Descloizite occurs in vug and fracture fill associated with karst fill/collapse breccia and typically occurs in cavities adjacent to the oxidized smithsonite/willemite zinc ore.
The ore grade of the mine averaged 16.8 % Zn, 4% Pb, and 0.93 % V2O5. Mineralisation has been traced to a depth of 750 m below the surface, but was mined only to a depth of 600 m.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsCommodity List
This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.Mineral List
38 valid minerals. 1 erroneous literature entry.
Rock Types Recorded
Select Rock List Type
Alphabetical List Tree DiagramDetailed Mineral List:
| β Anglesite Formula: PbSO4 Description: Found as small crystals some have a pale red colour. |
| β Aragonite Formula: CaCO3 |
| β Beudantite Formula: PbFe3+3(AsO4)(SO4)(OH)6 Description: Reference given below mentions beudantite at this locality comes from a personal comment to the author by Claus Hedegaard. |
| β Boulangerite Formula: Pb5Sb4S11 Description: Found with cerussite and natrojarosite. |
| β Calcite Formula: CaCO3 Description: Small scalenohedral to rhombohedral crystals. |
| β Cerussite Formula: PbCO3 Colour: White Description: Although uncommon is associated with either willemite or smithsonite, crystals to 5mm. References: |
| β Chalcocite Formula: Cu2S Description: Occur as microscopic components. |
| β Chalcopyrite Formula: CuFeS2 Description: Found as an accessory mineral of the hypogene minerals. |
| β Chrysocolla Formula: Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 Description: From ore dumps found associated with tangeite and calcite. |
| β Covellite Formula: CuS Description: Occurs as microscopic components in the supergene minerals. |
| βͺ Descloizite Formula: PbZn(VO4)(OH) Habit: Frequently spear-shaped, in subparallel groups, also prismatic, pseudocubic, pyramidal and tabular. Colour: Metallic black to green-black, orange-brown to golden brown, often iridescent bornite-like, occasionally red (<5mm) Description: Associated minerals are calcite and/or dolomite, smithsonite & willemite. References: |
| β Dolomite Formula: CaMg(CO3)2 Description: Dolomite is relatively rare but is found with descloizite. |
| β Enargite Formula: Cu3AsS4 |
| β Galena Formula: PbS References: |
| β Goethite Formula: Fe3+O(OH) |
| β Greenockite Formula: CdS Description: Is a microscopic component in the supergene minerals. |
| β Hematite Formula: Fe2O3 |
| β Hemimorphite Formula: Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O |
| β Jordanite Formula: Pb14As6S23 Description: Found in thin sections of the ore. |
| β Leadhillite ? Formula: Pb4(CO3)2(SO4)(OH)2 Description: Noted in a single identification of small hexagonal crystals (in Von Bezing, L., Bode, R., and Jahn, S., (2008) and originally taken from reference Stieglitz, B. and Stieglitz, H. (1995) Lapis, 20(9)).
According to a recent reference (Cairncross, B. (2021) The minerals of Berg Aukas, Otavi Mountainland, Namibia. Rocks & Minerals, 96(2)) this occurrence is questionable, there is no verification on how identified and provenance cannot be confirmed. |
| β Malachite Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| β Matlockite Formula: PbFCl |
| β Mimetite Formula: Pb5(AsO4)3Cl |
| β Minium Formula: Pb3O4 Description: As a red crust on galena. |
| β Mottramite Formula: PbCu(VO4)(OH) References: |
| β Natrojarosite Formula: NaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6 Description: Found with cerussite and boulangerite. |
| β Pyrite Formula: FeS2 Description: In the northern ore horizon limonite pseudomorphs after pyrite and willemite. |
| β Pyromorphite Formula: Pb5(PO4)3Cl Habit: Hexagonal, prismatic Colour: Colourless, green, brown. Description: Small (<1mm) on willemite identified as calcium-rich pyromorphite. References: |
| β Quartz Formula: SiO2 Description: Found associated with descloizite also secondary quartz is common particularly in the breccias. |
| β Renierite Formula: (Cu+,Zn)11Fe4(Ge4+,As5+)2S16 Description: An accessory mineral of hypogene origin. |
| β Rhodochrosite Formula: MnCO3 Description: Found with cerussite and malachite. |
| β Rosasite Formula: (Cu,Zn)2(CO3)(OH)2 Description: Found with malachite and willemite. |
| β Smithsonite Formula: ZnCO3 Habit: Botryoidal, sheaf-like aggregates Colour: Colourless to white, tan Description: Most common in the upper parts of the central ore body. Always opaque white to tan in colour. Composite crystals up to 4cm occur. References: |
| β Sphalerite Formula: ZnS Colour: Honey Description: Crystals up to 1cm. References: |
| β Tangeite Formula: CaCu(VO4)(OH) Description: From the ore dumps, veinlets of scaly aggregates and rosette apple green crystals to 0.1mm associated with chrysocolla and calcite |
| β 'Tennantite Subgroup' Formula: Cu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12S |
| β 'Tetrahedrite Subgroup' Formula: Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S |
| β Formula: PbZn2(AsO4)2 · 2H2O References: |
| β Vanadinite Formula: Pb5(VO4)3Cl Colour: Yellow Description: Crystals to 7cm in the British Museum of Natural History collection, coated by descloizite and small yellow (vanadinite) crystals. Descloizite pseudomorphs after vanadinite are known. References: |
| β VΓ©signiΓ©ite Formula: BaCu3(VO4)2(OH)2 Description: From ore dumps associated with vanadinite and descloizite on witherite-calcite matrix as dark green pseudohexagonal crystals to 0.1mm. |
| β Willemite Formula: Zn2SiO4 Habit: Massive, needle-like prismatic hexagonal Colour: White, pale yellow-white, red-brown. Description: Crystals up to 1cm found in vugs, as aggregate bundles or radiating rosettes. References: |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| β | Chalcocite | 2.BA.05 | Cu2S |
| β | Covellite | 2.CA.05a | CuS |
| β | Sphalerite | 2.CB.05a | ZnS |
| β | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| β | Renierite | 2.CB.35a | (Cu+,Zn)11Fe4(Ge4+,As5+)2S16 |
| β | Greenockite | 2.CB.45 | CdS |
| β | Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS |
| β | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| β | 'Tennantite Subgroup' | 2.GB.05 | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12S |
| β | 'Tetrahedrite Subgroup' | 2.GB.05 | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S |
| β | Boulangerite | 2.HC.15 | Pb5Sb4S11 |
| β | Jordanite | 2.JB.30a | Pb14As6S23 |
| β | Enargite | 2.KA.05 | Cu3AsS4 |
| Group 3 - Halides | |||
| β | Matlockite | 3.DC.25 | PbFCl |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| β | Goethite | 4.00. | Fe3+O(OH) |
| β | Minium | 4.BD.05 | Pb3O4 |
| β | Hematite | 4.CB.05 | Fe2O3 |
| β | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| β | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| β | Rhodochrosite | 5.AB.05 | MnCO3 |
| β | Smithsonite | 5.AB.05 | ZnCO3 |
| β | Dolomite | 5.AB.10 | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| β | Aragonite | 5.AB.15 | CaCO3 |
| β | Cerussite | 5.AB.15 | PbCO3 |
| β | Malachite | 5.BA.10 | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| β | Rosasite | 5.BA.10 | (Cu,Zn)2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| β | Leadhillite ? | 5.BF.40 | Pb4(CO3)2(SO4)(OH)2 |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| β | Anglesite | 7.AD.35 | PbSO4 |
| β | Natrojarosite | 7.BC.10 | NaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates | |||
| β | Tangeite | 8.BH.35 | CaCu(VO4)(OH) |
| β | Descloizite | 8.BH.40 | PbZn(VO4)(OH) |
| β | Mottramite | 8.BH.40 | PbCu(VO4)(OH) |
| β | VΓ©signiΓ©ite | 8.BH.45 | BaCu3(VO4)2(OH)2 |
| β | Beudantite | 8.BL.05 | PbFe3+3(AsO4)(SO4)(OH)6 |
| β | Mimetite | 8.BN.05 | Pb5(AsO4)3Cl |
| β | Pyromorphite | 8.BN.05 | Pb5(PO4)3Cl |
| β | Vanadinite | 8.BN.05 | Pb5(VO4)3Cl |
| β | Tsumcorite ? | 8.CG.15 | PbZn2(AsO4)2 Β· 2H2O |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| β | Willemite | 9.AA.05 | Zn2SiO4 |
| β | Hemimorphite | 9.BD.10 | Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 Β· H2O |
| β | Chrysocolla | 9.ED.20 | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 Β· nH2O, x < 1 |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | β Beudantite | PbFe33+(AsO4)(SO4)(OH)6 |
| H | β Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| H | β Descloizite | PbZn(VO4)(OH) |
| H | β Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| H | β Hemimorphite | Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O |
| H | β Leadhillite | Pb4(CO3)2(SO4)(OH)2 |
| H | β Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| H | β Mottramite | PbCu(VO4)(OH) |
| H | β Natrojarosite | NaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| H | β Rosasite | (Cu,Zn)2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| H | β Tsumcorite | PbZn2(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| H | β Tangeite | CaCu(VO4)(OH) |
| H | β VΓ©signiΓ©ite | BaCu3(VO4)2(OH)2 |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | β Aragonite | CaCO3 |
| C | β Calcite | CaCO3 |
| C | β Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| C | β Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| C | β Leadhillite | Pb4(CO3)2(SO4)(OH)2 |
| C | β Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| C | β Rhodochrosite | MnCO3 |
| C | β Rosasite | (Cu,Zn)2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| C | β Smithsonite | ZnCO3 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | β Anglesite | PbSO4 |
| O | β Aragonite | CaCO3 |
| O | β Beudantite | PbFe33+(AsO4)(SO4)(OH)6 |
| O | β Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | β Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| O | β Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| O | β Descloizite | PbZn(VO4)(OH) |
| O | β Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| O | β Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| O | β Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| O | β Hemimorphite | Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O |
| O | β Leadhillite | Pb4(CO3)2(SO4)(OH)2 |
| O | β Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| O | β Mimetite | Pb5(AsO4)3Cl |
| O | β Minium | Pb3O4 |
| O | β Mottramite | PbCu(VO4)(OH) |
| O | β Natrojarosite | NaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| O | β Pyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3Cl |
| O | β Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | β Rhodochrosite | MnCO3 |
| O | β Rosasite | (Cu,Zn)2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| O | β Smithsonite | ZnCO3 |
| O | β Tsumcorite | PbZn2(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| O | β Tangeite | CaCu(VO4)(OH) |
| O | β Vanadinite | Pb5(VO4)3Cl |
| O | β VΓ©signiΓ©ite | BaCu3(VO4)2(OH)2 |
| O | β Willemite | Zn2SiO4 |
| F | Fluorine | |
| F | β Matlockite | PbFCl |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | β Natrojarosite | NaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | β Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | β Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | β Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| Si | β Hemimorphite | Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O |
| Si | β Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | β Willemite | Zn2SiO4 |
| P | Phosphorus | |
| P | β Pyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3Cl |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | β Anglesite | PbSO4 |
| S | β Beudantite | PbFe33+(AsO4)(SO4)(OH)6 |
| S | β Boulangerite | Pb5Sb4S11 |
| S | β Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | β Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| S | β Covellite | CuS |
| S | β Enargite | Cu3AsS4 |
| S | β Galena | PbS |
| S | β Greenockite | CdS |
| S | β Jordanite | Pb14As6S23 |
| S | β Leadhillite | Pb4(CO3)2(SO4)(OH)2 |
| S | β Natrojarosite | NaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| S | β Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | β Renierite | (Cu+,Zn)11Fe4(Ge4+,As5+)2S16 |
| S | β Sphalerite | ZnS |
| S | β Tennantite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)As4S12S |
| S | β Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S |
| Cl | Chlorine | |
| Cl | β Matlockite | PbFCl |
| Cl | β Mimetite | Pb5(AsO4)3Cl |
| Cl | β Pyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3Cl |
| Cl | β Vanadinite | Pb5(VO4)3Cl |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | β Aragonite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | β Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | β Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Ca | β Tangeite | CaCu(VO4)(OH) |
| V | Vanadium | |
| V | β Descloizite | PbZn(VO4)(OH) |
| V | β Mottramite | PbCu(VO4)(OH) |
| V | β Tangeite | CaCu(VO4)(OH) |
| V | β Vanadinite | Pb5(VO4)3Cl |
| V | β VΓ©signiΓ©ite | BaCu3(VO4)2(OH)2 |
| Mn | Manganese | |
| Mn | β Rhodochrosite | MnCO3 |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | β Beudantite | PbFe33+(AsO4)(SO4)(OH)6 |
| Fe | β Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | β Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| Fe | β Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| Fe | β Natrojarosite | NaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| Fe | β Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | β Renierite | (Cu+,Zn)11Fe4(Ge4+,As5+)2S16 |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | β Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Cu | β Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| Cu | β Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| Cu | β Covellite | CuS |
| Cu | β Enargite | Cu3AsS4 |
| Cu | β Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Cu | β Mottramite | PbCu(VO4)(OH) |
| Cu | β Renierite | (Cu+,Zn)11Fe4(Ge4+,As5+)2S16 |
| Cu | β Rosasite | (Cu,Zn)2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Cu | β Tennantite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)As4S12S |
| Cu | β Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S |
| Cu | β Tangeite | CaCu(VO4)(OH) |
| Cu | β VΓ©signiΓ©ite | BaCu3(VO4)2(OH)2 |
| Zn | Zinc | |
| Zn | β Descloizite | PbZn(VO4)(OH) |
| Zn | β Hemimorphite | Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O |
| Zn | β Renierite | (Cu+,Zn)11Fe4(Ge4+,As5+)2S16 |
| Zn | β Rosasite | (Cu,Zn)2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Zn | β Smithsonite | ZnCO3 |
| Zn | β Sphalerite | ZnS |
| Zn | β Tsumcorite | PbZn2(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| Zn | β Willemite | Zn2SiO4 |
| Ge | Germanium | |
| Ge | β Renierite | (Cu+,Zn)11Fe4(Ge4+,As5+)2S16 |
| As | Arsenic | |
| As | β Beudantite | PbFe33+(AsO4)(SO4)(OH)6 |
| As | β Enargite | Cu3AsS4 |
| As | β Jordanite | Pb14As6S23 |
| As | β | |
Berg Aukas Mine, Grootfontein Constituency, Otjozondjupa Region, Namibia