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Ambatofotsy pegmatite, Mahavelona, Soavinandriana District, Itasy, Madagascari
Regional Level Types
Ambatofotsy pegmatitePegmatite
MahavelonaCommune
Soavinandriana DistrictDistrict
ItasyRegion
MadagascarCountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
19° 10' South , 46° 35' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
-19.16667,46.58333
GeoHash:
G#: mh94unbfn
GRN:
S13E32
Type:
Pegmatite
Köppen climate type:
Cwb : Subtropical highland climate or temperate oceanic climate with dry winters
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Soavinandriana40,453 (2018)15.7km
Miandrarivo27,000 (2018)34.4km
Faratsiho37,563 (2018)46.4km
Mindat Locality ID:
23574
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:23574:2
GUID (UUID V4):
d396d89f-c463-4e4a-8b16-267024f15c2f
Other Languages:
Malagasy:
Pegmatitan' Ambatofotsy, Kaominin'i Mahavelona, Distrikan'i Soavinandriana, Faritr'Itasy, Madagasikara


A granite LCT pegmatite, subtype Beryl-Columbite-Uranium that is famous for producing very large betafites. One of the largest crystal groups weighed 104 kg!

It is located 18 km W of the town Soavinandriana in the central highland of Madagascar (Besairie 1966, see Map in Behier 1963). The pegmatite dike is irregular, 300 m long and 30-40 m wide. The pegmatite with a typical large quartz core is hosted in an intensely lateritized gneiss with distinct N-S foliation. It is the most important uraniferous pegmatite in the Kitsamby-Antsirabe pegmatite district.

Formerly operated and owned by the Compagnie Lyonnaise de Madagascar, with a production of about 20 tons of betafite. It was worked before WW1. In 1948 the Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique (CEA) reopened the mine. A total of 23,500 kg of euxenite and betafite were mined here (production from 50,000 tons of pegmatite mined).

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.


Mineral List


16 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Aeschynite-(Y)
Formula: (Y,Ln,Ca,Th)(Ti,Nb)2(O,OH)6
Description: Described as "priorite"
ⓘ Albite
Formula: Na(AlSi3O8)
ⓘ Albite var. Oligoclase
Formula: (Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8]
ⓘ Anatase
Formula: TiO2
Description: Variety xanthitane. Found as microscopic crystals in pseudomorphs after titanite.
ⓘ Anatase var. Xanthitane
Formula: TiO2
ⓘ Beryl
Formula: Be3Al2(Si6O18)
ⓘ 'Biotite'
Formula: K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ Bismuthinite
Formula: Bi2S3
Description: Pseudomorphed to bismutite
ⓘ Bismutite
Formula: (BiO)2CO3
ⓘ 'Columbite-(Fe)-Columbite-(Mn) Series'
ⓘ Euxenite-(Y)
Formula: (Y,Ca,Ce,U,Th)(Nb,Ta,Ti)2O6
ⓘ 'Feldspar Group'
Description: Giant crystals of perthite measuring 190 x 50m (!)has been observed here
ⓘ 'Feldspar Group var. Perthite'
Description: Giant crystals of perthite measuring 190 x 50m (!)has been observed here
ⓘ Fergusonite-(Y)
Formula: YNbO4
ⓘ 'Garnet Group'
Formula: X3Z2(SiO4)3
ⓘ Microcline
Formula: K(AlSi3O8)
Colour: Pale salmon-pink
ⓘ 'Pyrochlore Supergroup'
Formula: A2-mD2X6-wZ1-n
Description: The betafites occurs in pockets in biotite
ⓘ 'Pyrochlore Supergroup var. Betafite (of Hogarth 1977)'
Formula: (Ca,Na,U)2(Ti, Nb,Ta)2O6Z(OH)
Description: The betafites occurs in pockets in biotite
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Quartz var. Amethyst
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Quartz var. Smoky Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Rutile
Formula: TiO2
Description: As pseudomorphs after titanite. The pseudomorphs consists (in parts) of microscopic rutile crystals
ⓘ Thorite
Formula: Th(SiO4)
Description: The variety "uranothorite" occurs here
ⓘ Thorite var. Orangite
Formula: Th(SiO4)
ⓘ Thorite var. Uranothorite
Formula: (Th,U)SiO4
ⓘ Titanite
Formula: CaTi(SiO4)O
Description: Described as "Sphene". Also pseudomorphs after sphene crystals (up to 5 cm large)
ⓘ 'Tourmaline'
Formula: AD3G6 (T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
ⓘ Vermiculite
Formula: Mg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
ⓘ Xenotime-(Y)
Formula: Y(PO4)
ⓘ Zircon
Formula: Zr(SiO4)
ⓘ Zircon var. Cyrtolite
Formula: Zr[(SiO4),(OH)4]
ⓘ Zircon var. Malacon
Formula: Zr(SiO4)

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘBismuthinite2.DB.05Bi2S3
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘvar. Amethyst4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘvar. Smoky Quartz4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘRutile4.DB.05TiO2
ⓘAnatase4.DD.05TiO2
ⓘvar. Xanthitane4.DD.05TiO2
ⓘAeschynite-(Y)4.DF.05(Y,Ln,Ca,Th)(Ti,Nb)2(O,OH)6
ⓘEuxenite-(Y)4.DG.05(Y,Ca,Ce,U,Th)(Nb,Ta,Ti)2O6
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘBismutite5.BE.25(BiO)2CO3
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘFergusonite-(Y)7.GA.05YNbO4
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
ⓘXenotime-(Y)8.AD.35Y(PO4)
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘZircon
var. Malacon		9.AD.30Zr(SiO4)
ⓘThorite
var. Uranothorite		9.AD.30(Th,U)SiO4
ⓘZircon
var. Cyrtolite		9.AD.30Zr[(SiO4),(OH)4]
ⓘ9.AD.30Zr(SiO4)
ⓘThorite
var. Orangite		9.AD.30Th(SiO4)
ⓘ9.AD.30Th(SiO4)
ⓘTitanite9.AG.15CaTi(SiO4)O
ⓘBeryl9.CJ.05Be3Al2(Si6O18)
ⓘVermiculite9.EC.50Mg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
ⓘMicrocline9.FA.30K(AlSi3O8)
ⓘAlbite9.FA.35Na(AlSi3O8)
ⓘvar. Oligoclase9.FA.35(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8]
Unclassified
ⓘ'Biotite'-K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ'Pyrochlore Supergroup
var. Betafite (of Hogarth 1977)'		-(Ca,Na,U)2(Ti, Nb,Ta)2O6Z(OH)
ⓘ'Feldspar Group
var. Perthite'		-
ⓘ''-
ⓘ'Columbite-(Fe)-Columbite-(Mn) Series'-
ⓘ'Garnet Group'-X3Z2(SiO4)3
ⓘ'Pyrochlore Supergroup'-A2-mD2X6-wZ1-n
ⓘ'Tourmaline'-AD3G6 (T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ Aeschynite-(Y)(Y,Ln,Ca,Th)(Ti,Nb)2(O,OH)6
Hⓘ Pyrochlore Supergroup var. Betafite (of Hogarth 1977)(Ca,Na,U)2(Ti, Nb,Ta)2O6Z(OH)
Hⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Hⓘ VermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
Hⓘ Zircon var. CyrtoliteZr[(SiO4),(OH)4]
BeBeryllium
Beⓘ BerylBe3Al2(Si6O18)
BBoron
Bⓘ TourmalineAD3G6 (T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
CCarbon
Cⓘ Bismutite(BiO)2CO3
OOxygen
Oⓘ Aeschynite-(Y)(Y,Ln,Ca,Th)(Ti,Nb)2(O,OH)6
Oⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Oⓘ Quartz var. AmethystSiO2
Oⓘ AnataseTiO2
Oⓘ Pyrochlore Supergroup var. Betafite (of Hogarth 1977)(Ca,Na,U)2(Ti, Nb,Ta)2O6Z(OH)
Oⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Oⓘ Bismutite(BiO)2CO3
Oⓘ BerylBe3Al2(Si6O18)
Oⓘ Euxenite-(Y)(Y,Ca,Ce,U,Th)(Nb,Ta,Ti)2O6
Oⓘ Fergusonite-(Y)YNbO4
Oⓘ MicroclineK(AlSi3O8)
Oⓘ Albite var. Oligoclase(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8]
Oⓘ Thorite var. OrangiteTh(SiO4)
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ RutileTiO2
Oⓘ Quartz var. Smoky QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ ThoriteTh(SiO4)
Oⓘ TitaniteCaTi(SiO4)O
Oⓘ TourmalineAD3G6 (T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
Oⓘ VermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
Oⓘ Xenotime-(Y)Y(PO4)
Oⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
Oⓘ Anatase var. XanthitaneTiO2
Oⓘ Zircon var. CyrtoliteZr[(SiO4),(OH)4]
Oⓘ Thorite var. Uranothorite(Th,U)SiO4
Oⓘ Garnet GroupX3Z2(SiO4)3
Oⓘ Zircon var. MalaconZr(SiO4)
FFluorine
Fⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
NaSodium
Naⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Naⓘ Pyrochlore Supergroup var. Betafite (of Hogarth 1977)(Ca,Na,U)2(Ti, Nb,Ta)2O6Z(OH)
Naⓘ Albite var. Oligoclase(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8]
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Mgⓘ VermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
AlAluminium
Alⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Alⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Alⓘ BerylBe3Al2(Si6O18)
Alⓘ MicroclineK(AlSi3O8)
Alⓘ Albite var. Oligoclase(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8]
Alⓘ VermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
SiSilicon
Siⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Siⓘ Quartz var. AmethystSiO2
Siⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Siⓘ BerylBe3Al2(Si6O18)
Siⓘ MicroclineK(AlSi3O8)
Siⓘ Albite var. Oligoclase(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8]
Siⓘ Thorite var. OrangiteTh(SiO4)
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ Quartz var. Smoky QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ ThoriteTh(SiO4)
Siⓘ TitaniteCaTi(SiO4)O
Siⓘ VermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
Siⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
Siⓘ Zircon var. CyrtoliteZr[(SiO4),(OH)4]
Siⓘ Thorite var. Uranothorite(Th,U)SiO4
Siⓘ Garnet GroupX3Z2(SiO4)3
Siⓘ Zircon var. MalaconZr(SiO4)
PPhosphorus
Pⓘ Xenotime-(Y)Y(PO4)
SSulfur
Sⓘ BismuthiniteBi2S3
KPotassium
Kⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Kⓘ MicroclineK(AlSi3O8)
CaCalcium
Caⓘ Aeschynite-(Y)(Y,Ln,Ca,Th)(Ti,Nb)2(O,OH)6
Caⓘ Pyrochlore Supergroup var. Betafite (of Hogarth 1977)(Ca,Na,U)2(Ti, Nb,Ta)2O6Z(OH)
Caⓘ Euxenite-(Y)(Y,Ca,Ce,U,Th)(Nb,Ta,Ti)2O6
Caⓘ Albite var. Oligoclase(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8]
Caⓘ TitaniteCaTi(SiO4)O
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ Aeschynite-(Y)(Y,Ln,Ca,Th)(Ti,Nb)2(O,OH)6
Tiⓘ AnataseTiO2
Tiⓘ Pyrochlore Supergroup var. Betafite (of Hogarth 1977)(Ca,Na,U)2(Ti, Nb,Ta)2O6Z(OH)
Tiⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Tiⓘ Euxenite-(Y)(Y,Ca,Ce,U,Th)(Nb,Ta,Ti)2O6
Tiⓘ RutileTiO2
Tiⓘ TitaniteCaTi(SiO4)O
Tiⓘ Anatase var. XanthitaneTiO2
FeIron
Feⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Feⓘ VermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
YYttrium
Yⓘ Aeschynite-(Y)(Y,Ln,Ca,Th)(Ti,Nb)2(O,OH)6
Yⓘ Euxenite-(Y)(Y,Ca,Ce,U,Th)(Nb,Ta,Ti)2O6
Yⓘ Fergusonite-(Y)YNbO4
Yⓘ Xenotime-(Y)Y(PO4)
ZrZirconium
Zrⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
Zrⓘ Zircon var. CyrtoliteZr[(SiO4),(OH)4]
Zrⓘ Zircon var. MalaconZr(SiO4)
NbNiobium
Nbⓘ Aeschynite-(Y)(Y,Ln,Ca,Th)(Ti,Nb)2(O,OH)6
Nbⓘ Pyrochlore Supergroup var. Betafite (of Hogarth 1977)(Ca,Na,U)2(Ti, Nb,Ta)2O6Z(OH)
Nbⓘ Euxenite-(Y)(Y,Ca,Ce,U,Th)(Nb,Ta,Ti)2O6
Nbⓘ Fergusonite-(Y)YNbO4
CeCerium
Ceⓘ Euxenite-(Y)(Y,Ca,Ce,U,Th)(Nb,Ta,Ti)2O6
TaTantalum
Taⓘ Pyrochlore Supergroup var. Betafite (of Hogarth 1977)(Ca,Na,U)2(Ti, Nb,Ta)2O6Z(OH)
Taⓘ Euxenite-(Y)(Y,Ca,Ce,U,Th)(Nb,Ta,Ti)2O6
BiBismuth
Biⓘ BismuthiniteBi2S3
Biⓘ Bismutite(BiO)2CO3
ThThorium
Thⓘ Aeschynite-(Y)(Y,Ln,Ca,Th)(Ti,Nb)2(O,OH)6
Thⓘ Euxenite-(Y)(Y,Ca,Ce,U,Th)(Nb,Ta,Ti)2O6
Thⓘ Thorite var. OrangiteTh(SiO4)
Thⓘ ThoriteTh(SiO4)
Thⓘ Thorite var. Uranothorite(Th,U)SiO4
UUranium
Uⓘ Pyrochlore Supergroup var. Betafite (of Hogarth 1977)(Ca,Na,U)2(Ti, Nb,Ta)2O6Z(OH)
Uⓘ Euxenite-(Y)(Y,Ca,Ce,U,Th)(Nb,Ta,Ti)2O6
Uⓘ Thorite var. Uranothorite(Th,U)SiO4

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

Madagascar
Somali PlateTectonic Plate

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

Lacroix, Alfred (1915) Sur le sphène malgache et sur ses pseudomorphoses. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 38 (1) 21-24 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1915.3600
Lacroix, Alfred (1922) Minéralogie de Madagascar, Tome I. Géologie-Minéralogie descriptive. Augustin Challamel, Paris. p.1-624. pp.379-381
Behier, Jean (1963) Carte minéralogique de Madagascar. Archive Service Géologique de Madagascar A.1871
Besaire, Henri (1966) Gîtes minéraux de Madagascar. Annales géologiques de Madagascar Vol. 34. République Malgachepp.389-390
Bourret, Weston (1988) Uranium-bearing pegmatites of the Antsirabe-Kitsamby district, Madagascar. Ore Geology Reviews, 3 (1) 177-191 doi:10.1016/0169-1368(88)90017-0
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