A new locality for fine spessartine garnets and orange kyanite (coloured by Mn3+).
Located about 35 km NE of Loliondo proper "in the middle of nowhere." A village called Lemisikio is nearby.
"This deposit was visited and studied by Mr. Jochen O. Hintze, German geologist. He described it as an approximate 100 meter wide quartz mass or vein with weathered detritus. The quartz is criss-crossed with veinlets of hematite. The spessartine garnets are bound to the hematite in the veinlets. Most work to date has been digging into the loose weathered material to retrieve the garnet crystals. Only a little work has been done on the intact quartz mass. (priv. comm. J. Hintze to C. Lemanski, Tucson, 2008)."
The place name is new and was assigned by the local Massai tribesmen. The spelling was graciously provided by Mr. Hintze from his field notebook. The locality (new village) is growing rapidly with the arrival of new residents responding to the "Garnet Rush."
Mineral List
9 entries listed. 7 valid minerals.
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References
- Lapis (2008): 33(7-8).
- Chadwick, K.M. & Rossman, G.R. (2009) Orange kyanite from Tanzania. Gems & Gemology 45, 146-147.
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