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Sakoany deposit, Katsepy Commune, Mitsinjo District, Boeny Region, Mahajanga Province (Majunga), Madagascar
Latitude: 15°51'18"S
Longitude: 46°13'50"E
Longitude: 46°13'50"E
A famous locality that has produced tons of magnificent celestine specimen. It is located near the village of Sakoany, on the western side of the banks of the Betsiboka River (where it empties into the Bombetoka Bay), at the northwestern coast of Madagascar. It is further located about 12 km south of Katsepy, the nearest administrative centre.
The celestine-bearing layer is found in a maximum 30 m thick lens between layers of crinoidal limestones and sandy greywacke of the Danien period (Jurassic, 65 million years old). The celestine occurs mainly as 2 different types: as geodes in varying sizes [Ratsimabazafy (1973) reported a geode about 60 cm in diameter and weighing 54 kg], and as crystal clusters up to 15 cm in diameter. The yearly production is about 15 tons (Pezzotta 1999).
The celestine was first discovered in 1967 and the diggings started first very close to the seashore. Later it was moved some hundreds meters away to a higher level (+ 15 m). The locality consists of numerous small, irregular, up to to 15 m deep holes in the ground.
Mineral List
| Celestine |
1 entry listed. 1 valid mineral.
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References
- Besaire, H. (1972): Géologie de Madagascar. I. Les terrains sédimentaires. Annales Géologiques de Madagascar. Tananarive, 35, p 203. [a short notice]
- Ratsimbazafy, J.R. (1973): Quelques considerations sur le gisement de celestite de Sakoany. Rapport Annuel du service geologique (?)1973, Tananarive, pp 125-130.
- Humbert and Labumaz (1982): La célestite de Madagascar. Monde et Mínéraux 49 (septembre-octobre 1982): 4-7.
- Pezzotta, F. (1999): Madagaskar. Das Paradies der Mineralien und Edelsteine. Extra Lapis nr 17, 88-89. [German edition]
- Wilson, W.E. (2010): The Sakoany Celestine Deposit. Mineralogical Record. 41:405-416
- Ratsimbazafy, J.R. (1973): Quelques considerations sur le gisement de celestite de Sakoany. Rapport Annuel du service geologique (?)1973, Tananarive, pp 125-130.
- Humbert and Labumaz (1982): La célestite de Madagascar. Monde et Mínéraux 49 (septembre-octobre 1982): 4-7.
- Pezzotta, F. (1999): Madagaskar. Das Paradies der Mineralien und Edelsteine. Extra Lapis nr 17, 88-89. [German edition]
- Wilson, W.E. (2010): The Sakoany Celestine Deposit. Mineralogical Record. 41:405-416
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Locality Updated: Sark's Hope Mine, Little Sark, Sark, Channel IslandsFrom David Ifold, 20th Jun 2013 10:47:06