Barite with Cerussite, Galena

specimen number:
2341168

location:
Lidal Mine, Mibladen, Midelt, Draa-Tafilalet, Morocco

description:
Colorless to light pink bladed crystals of lustrous barite measuring to 3.0 cm in size very attractive across the top of a matrix with glassy colorless translucent crystals of cerussite measuring to almost 1.0 cm in size. Minor galena present. In great condition. The specimen comes with a previous label from the collection of Jan Erik Larsen.

Mibladen, located in the high plateau region of the Middle Atlas Mountains in Morocco, is a world-famous historic mining district with operations that expanded significantly during the French protectorate in the early to mid-20th century for lead and barite. Geologically, the deposit is situated within secondary sedimentary carbonate formations, where mineralizing hydrothermal fluids interacted with limestone and dolostone host rocks to form rich oxidized zones. Mineralogically, the district is globally renowned for producing exceptional, highly aesthetic specimens of orange-red vanadinite crystals, often associated with pristine barite, cerussite, and wulfenite, making it one of the most celebrated mineral localities in Africa.

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