This large pegmatite field is situated 275 km southwest of the capital, Antananarivo and W of Ikalamavony, W of the city Fianarantsoa in the main Highland of Madagascar. The confluence of the rivers Masiatra and Mantsahala is forming the natural southern border of the pegmatite field and the town Mandrosonoro (about 125 km W of the town Ambositra) forming the northern border. Politically the pegmatite field is actually situated in 2 regions; Matsiatra region being the area mostly south of the Matsiatra river and Amoron'i Mania region being the division north of the Matsiatra river.
This area was the largest industrial beryl area in Madagascar, originally first exploited in the 1950s.
References:
- Besaire, H. (1966): Gites mineraux de Madagascar. Ann.Geol.de Mad XXXIV, 61-68
- Giraud,P. (1957): Les principaux champs pegmatitiques de Madagascar. in Commision de Coopération Technique en Afrique au Sud du Sahara (C.C.T.A.). Geologie. Comités regionaux Centre, Est et Sud. Conférence de Tananarive Avril 1957. I, 139-150
- Pezzotta, F.(1999): Madagaskar. Das Paradies der Mineralien und Edelsteine. ExtraLapis nr 17, 61-62 (german version)
