Pforte, Namibia

Does anyone know the approximate location of Pforte, Namibia. I have tried to locate it on the maps but to no avail. I have a miniature fluorite with black octahedrons from that location.

Hello Joseph,

Found next information:

1. Pforte-Jakkalswater-Riet near Stingbank Station(Khan River Valley) approx.30Km.west of Usakos(22°00'03"S/15°35'08"E),Damaraland District,Kunene Region,Namib Desert.

2. Pforte
Dubiose Fundortangabe.


(a) Pforte an der alten Otavi-Swakopmund- Eisenbahnlinie in der Naukluft (Bedarfshaltepunkt zwischen Jekalswater und Welwitschia )
(b) auch unter der Bezeichnung Weiße Pforte ( Wipoort, Witpoortberge Marmorpforte. Nördliche Seite des Swakop. Dolomitische Gesteine, intrudiert von Dolerit und Metamorphiten ; Amphibolen und Quarz)
(c) Es gibt noch weitere Bergeinschnitte in Namibia, welche "Porte " genannt wurden. (u.a. die Hatsameser Pforte) (Fahrbach, H.; 2003; Pers. Mttlg.)

Historische Fluoritstufen in hervorragenden, bis 6 cm großen, tief schwärzlich- pupurfarbenen Oktaedern mit tw. grünem Kern könnten wahrscheinlich aus den Kupfererz-Probeschurfen der "Weissen Pforte" stammen. Erzproben der alten Schurfe führen tiefvioletten Fluorit. (Seroka, P. 1998, Vor-Ort-Prospektion) Von der "Pforte" sollen auch smaragdgrüne Fluorite (südafrikanische Smaragde) stammen, deren Färbung auf einem Dreiphaseneinschlus aus Gasblasen, einer wässrigen, salzhaltigen Lösung und winzigen Halitkristallen beruht. Diese Fluorite wurden als Edelsteine verschliffen.

Die Fundortangabe eines Fluoritvorkommens "Pforte" ist bisher nicht bewiesen. Es ist nicht auszuschließen, dass Fluorit aus Schurfen der anfangs des Jh. noch nicht erschlossenen, nahe der Bahnstation Pforte liegenden Flussspat-Lagerstätte > Husab stammte. Alternativ kommt die Ida Mine (ein Gang zwischen den Zebra- und Husab-bergen), in welcher um 1912 von Michael Küstner Kupfererz abgebaut wurde, als Fundort in Betracht. Auch die nahegelegenen Rössing-Pegmatite führten (schleifwürdige) Fluorite.

Fluorite (violette Oktaeder bis mehrere cm und smaragdgrüne Würfel bis 3 cm) in ausgezeichneter, tw. schleifwürdiger Qualität wurden und werden auch in den Pegmatiten des Erongo-Gebirges und der Kleinen Spitzkoppe gefunden.

Letztendlich ist nicht auszuschließen, dass, um den eigentlichen Fundort der geschätzten Fluorite geheimzuhalten, die Bedarfs-Verladestation der Otavi-Swakopmund –Eisenbahnlinie "Pforte" als Fundort angegeben wurde. (Anfang des 20. Jh.)

3. Khan Mine
Historische Mine im S von Arandis, ca. 45 NE von Swakopmund. Hochmetamorphe Zone komplex gefalteter Gneise, Amphibolite und Marmor, welche von Graniten und Pegmatiten intrudiert wurden. Aus einer Linse (pocket) stammen ca. 30 Stufen mit tw. hochglänzendse, tiefviolett-schwarzen oktaedrischen Fluoriten. Es ist nicht auszuschliessen, dass diese Stufen mit denjenigen, unter dem Namen "Pforte" angegebenen Fluoriten identisch sind.

Greetings
Karel

It would seem Pforte is german for gate. I heard of Fluorite black octahedrons a couple of years ago from a dealer in South Africa but I was under the impression they came from the South African side of the Orange River ?

Possibly interesting,this military report refers to the place called "Pforte".


Military History Journal - Vol 13 No 2
The South African campaign in German South-West Africa, 1914-1915

The northern offensive:
By 18 March 1915, the South Africans were ready to advance on Riet and Pforte, positions held by the Germans. The Riet position was strong, the Germans having made good use of the banks of the Swakop River and the Langer Heinrich range of hills. By dawn, 20 March 1915, the South Africans were in position to strike, success depending on the effectiveness of flank attacks. The South African right flank attack stalled because the Langer Heinrich proved to be impassable to horses. The attack on the Pforte position was more successful, Col Alberts launching attacks simultaneously on the railway gap on the South African left and on the nek at the foot of Husab Berg. Artillery fire kept the attack on the railway at bay, but the nek was taken and two commandos were immediately rushed up to consolidate the position and to launch further attacks. Dust and uncertain light played havoc with the effectiveness of the German machine guns and eventually the railway was occupied and the German line of retreat was cut. This forced the Germans to redeploy, ending their artillery fire and thus enabling the commandos to capture part of Pforte Berg. The reserves and the artillery moved through the captured nek and, at 08.30, after two hours of fighting, the German force surrendered. Col Alberts’ men captured 209 Germans and two guns; additional prisoners were taken when a small group at the railway gap surrendered after being subjected to artillery fire.

Nice Weekend
Cheers
Karel

Hi,

I found this written on Claus Heddegaard's website under fluorite"

"This was like hunting a unicorn! Finally at least I saw a specimen - these are in the display of Narodni Museum, Prague, Czech Republic. These 2-3 cm Fluorite crystals are purplish black and show combination of cube and octahedron (left specimen) and cube, octahedraon and dodecahedron (right specimen). They come from Pforte in the Namib Desert, Namibia. I always heard of them, visiting Namibia, speaking to Fluorite collectors, etc., but nobody had a piece! Now I have seen one, regrettably the deposit is off-limits being in a natural reserve." www,hedegaard.com

The specimen I have looks similar to the pictures on Claus' site. Mine came out of the Herb Obodda collection and is an old-time piece.

Hi

This is very interesting information - I've emailed a couple of contacts in South Africa & waiting to hear if they've any info & I've a detailed geological map of Namibia (mislaid at present) so if I learn anymore will update.

Joseph,
The new "Namibia - Minerals and Localities", edited by Ludi von Bezing has the following to say about Pforte:"

"Pforte 37 [the number refers to the farm designation] east of Swakopmund. Dark-purple (to nearly black) octahedra, as excellent crystals, usually about 2cm on an edge but without matrix. Today this locality is in the Namib Naukluft Park and not accessable. The exact spot has probably been lost."

I found this interesting as I have a specimen from Pforte which I acquired from an old Australian collection a few years ago. However, it is quite different to this description, comprising pale green octahedral fluorites to 1cm on what appears to be a greissen-like matrix.

I have to say I have been amazed and truly delighted at the comprehensive nature of this book, both in terms of the minerals and the localities it covers.

Hope this helps,
Mal

Malcolm,

Thank you for the information. I centainly will try to purchase the book you mention.

I also re-examined the specimen I have in my collection. Upon examination with a magnifier I observed that the core of the specimen (It is without matrix) is a sea green with minor purple highlights. The crystal faces are so dark they appear black although the color might be a deep purple or be the result of some sort of oxide coating. THere is no way I can verify the color without damaging the crystal faces. The crystals in my collection are about 2 cm in diameter which leads me to believe this was a one pocket occurence.

Best,

Joe

The exact locality spot may not be lost, there is hope yet, a geologist friend who mapped out the central area of Namibia in his apprenticeship years has some old maps & 'X' marks the spot, he's going to dig them out & see if he can confirm once he returns home from Europe.

I found my map geological survey of Namibia, 1998, see attached picture

Debbie,

Thank you. The map clears up the mystery of where Pforte is located. Quite a nice area for minerals according to the map.

Best,

Joe

Here's a bigger picture of the area, substantial deposits of various minerals.

Debbie

Hi!
I heard of the fluorite occurence shortly and was even able to afford some yesterday in Munich by chance. This is an interesting discussion and it's nice to see that Pforte can be located on the map of Debbie. I cannot find it on regular maps unfortunately. I will take some photos tomorrow morning and post them here. My question is: why isn't the locality in the mindat database? Even if it's doubtful.

Cheers Philip

Here are the photos, took a while.
First specimen 48x33x25 mm, second 41x35x26 mm







Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/03/2011 09:42PM by Debbie Woolf.

I'm so glad I found this thread. I have had this thumbnail specimen (24 mm.) in my collection for about 15 years, with a dealer label as: "Garnet, Pforte, Namibia". Trying to find the locality in Mindat, I came across this conversation, and checking the specimen more closely (including hardness), it is indeed a fluorite crystal, so dark as to appear black. I've added the locality to Mindat, as a sublocality of Namib Naukluft National Park, and hope that others will post pictures of their fluorite specimens there. FYI, von Bezing's book also mentions scheelite, from a skarn, at this locality.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/04/2012 08:51PM by Kelly Nash.

Good day.

Is any one still following this site and discussion?

My interest in Pforte is as a railway historian and reading the above there is confusion about the location of Pforte. In railway terms Pforte station - obviously the scene of the battle noted by one contributor - is distinctly not where the mineral map shows (another!) Pforte to be.

Pforte station location is south of the map position and was closest to the point named Sphinx (which was another station on the old railway) that shows on the map.

I have also located yet another Pforte in the southern part of Namibia!

Mar Robinson
Cape Town

Hi
if you like to know more about the Pforte, the train stations and train itineraries and the famous Pforte fluorites (with a number of images of very fine specimen) pls. refer to my article " Die geheimnisvollen Fluorite der Pforte in Namibia" (The mysterious fluorites from the Pforte in Namibia) which had been edited a few weeks ago.

The article is in German, however, pictures speak for themselves.

[www.mineralienatlas.de]

Peter