Cerussite with Barite, Galena

specimen number:
2341158

location:
Les O Mine, Mibladen, Midelt, Draa-Tafilalet, Morocco

description:
One side of this matrix is mostly covered with pinkish bladed crystals of barite. Scattered richly across this are twinned crystals of lustrous almost transparent crystals of cerussite to 1.5 cm in size. Minor galena is present. This is in very good condition. From 2017, 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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