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Andranondambo sapphire deposits, Maromby Commune, Amboasary District, Anosy (Fort Dauphin) Region, Tuléar (Toliara) Province, Madagascar

Latitude: 24°25'S
Longitude: 46°35'E
Fitandrahana safira tany Andranondambo, Kaominina Maromby, Distrikan'i Amboasary, Faritra Anosy, Faritanin'i Toliary, Madagasikara

Gem sapphires were rediscovered in 1991 close to the small village of Andranondambo. Earlier workings for phlogopite and thorianite already existed close to the village. The discovery caused a huge sapphire fever, and the village housed at times (1993-1997) nearly 100.000 people. The Andranondambo sapphire deposits cover an area about 3 km long and 0.5-1 km wide. Local miners have dug out a large number of small holes. They are often visible as 2-3m narrow sinkholes in the ground with underground shafts, some as deep as 20-30 m.
Most of the claims and diggings are now more or less abandoned (2009)
The sapphires are found in high-grade granulites in metamorphic rocks belonging to the Proterozoic Tranomaro group. They are formed in Th-U skarns belonging to the Pan-African granulitic formations.

Mineral List

'Amphibole Group'
Anorthite
Baddeleyite
Calcite
Corundum
var: Sapphire
Diaspore
Diopside
Fluorapatite
Fluorite
Hedenbergite
Hibonite
'K Feldspar'
Phlogopite
'Pyroxene Group'
Quartz
var: Chalcedony
Rutile
'Scapolite'
Spinel
Titanite
Wollastonite
Zircon
Zirconolite


24 entries listed. 18 valid minerals.

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References

- Schwartz, D. and Petsch, E. (1996): Sapphires from the Andranomdambo region, Madagascar. Gems and Gemology 32 (2): 80-99
- de Grave, J., de Paepe, P., de Grave, E. , Vochten, R. and Eeckhout, S.G.: (2002): Mineralogical and Mössbauer spectroscopic study of a diopside occurring in the marbles of Andranondambo, southern Madagascar. American Mineralogist 87: 132-141
- Giuliani, G., Fallick, A., Rakotondrazafy, M., Ohnenstetter, D., Andriamamonjy, A., Ralantoarison, T., Rakotosamizanany, S., Razanatseheno, M., Offant, Y., Garnier, V., Dunaigre, C., Schwarz, D., Mercier, A., Ratrimo, V., and Ralison, B. (2007): Oxygen isotope systematics of gem corundum deposits in Madagascar: relevance for their geological origin. Mineralium Deposita 42, 251-270

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Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2012. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them. Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
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