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St John's Island (Zagbargad; Zabargad; Zebirget; Seberged; Topazios), Red Sea, Egypt

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Quaternary volcanic island, 3 x 2 km in size, which is an ancient (1300 BC) locality of gem peridote. The Greek name of the island, Topazios, is believed to have given name to topaz.
Largest of a group of islands in Foul Bay; located 46 km southeast of Ras Banas.

Note: The island is part of the Elba National Park.

Presence of spinel-lherzolites with anhydrous Al-diopside pyroxenites and hydrous Cr-diopside pyroxenites layers.
In the 19th century, geologists re-explored old mines and found interesting nickel deposits, which were later mined in the Nasser era around 1960.



References:
- Wilson, W. (1976): Famous Mineral Localities: Saint John's Island, Egypt. Mineralogical Record 7 (6): 310-314.
- Gübelin, E. (1980): 'Seberged, die Peridot-Insel im Roten Meer'. Lapis, xx (xx), 5-11.

- http://www.geoberg.de/text/geology/08031601.php
- http://giantcrystals.strahlen.org/africa/seberged.htm





 Map Reference: 23°36'16"N , 36°11'42"E

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Mineral List:
  		•  Actinolite
    ☐Ca
     
    2
    		(Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    5
    		(Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    22
    		)(OH)
     
    2
    Reference: [Eur. J. Mineral. , 1993, 5, pp. 1039-1056.]
  		•  'Albite-Anorthite Series'
    Description: Formed during late decompression stage.
    Reference: [Eur. J. Mineral. , 1993, 5, pp. 1039-1056.]
  		•  'Apatite'
    Reference: [Eur. J. Mineral. , 1993, 5, pp. 1039-1056.]
  		•  'Clinopyroxene Subgroup'
    Reference: [Eur. J. Mineral. , 1993, 5, pp. 1039-1056.]
  		•  Davyne
    (Na,K)
     
    6
    		Ca
     
    2
    		[(Cl
     
    2
    		,SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		]
    Reference: [Bonaccorsi E., Merlino S., Pasero M.(1991): Davyne from Zabargad (St. John's) Island: peculiar chemical and structural features. Acta Vulcanol., 2, 55-63. ]
  		•  Forsterite
    Mg
     
    2
    		[SiO
     
    4
    		]
    Reference: [Eur. J. Mineral. , 1993, 5, pp. 1039-1056.]
    Site Photo
    St John's Island (Zagbargad; Zabargad; Zebirget; Seberged; Topazios), Red Sea, Egypt
    © 2006 M. Kampf
  		•  Forsterite
    var: Peridot
    Reference: [www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com]
    Site Photo
    St John's Island (Zagbargad; Zabargad; Zebirget; Seberged; Topazios), Red Sea, Egypt
    © 2001 John H. Betts
  		•  Hercynite
    var: Picotite
    (Fe,Mg)(Al,Cr)
     
    2
    		O
     
    4
    Reference: [Eur. J. Mineral. , 1993, 5, pp. 1039-1056.]
  		•  Ilmenite
    Fe
    2+
     
    		TiO
     
    3
    Reference: [Eur. J. Mineral. , 1993, 5, pp. 1039-1056.]
  		•  Kaersutite
    [Na][Ca
     
    2
    		][Mg
     
    4
    		Ti][O|OH|Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    22
    		]
    Reference: [Eur. J. Mineral. , 1993, 5, pp. 1039-1056.]
  		•  Magnesiohornblende
    ☐[Ca
     
    2
    		][Mg
     
    4
    		Al][(OH)
     
    2
    		|AlSi
     
    7
    		O
     
    22
    		]
    Reference: [Eur. J. Mineral. , 1993, 5, pp. 1039-1056.]
  		•  Magnetite
    var: Titaniferous Magnetite
    Fe
    2+
     
    		(Fe
    3+
     
    		,Ti)
     
    2
    		O
     
    4
    Reference: [Eur. J. Mineral. , 1993, 5, pp. 1039-1056.]
  		•  'Orthopyroxene Subgroup'
    Reference: [Eur. J. Mineral. , 1993, 5, pp. 1039-1056.]
  		•  Pargasite
    [Na][Ca
     
    2
    		][Mg
     
    4
    		Al][(OH)
     
    2
    		|Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    22
    		]
    Description: Ti-pargasites.
    Reference: [Eur. J. Mineral. , 1993, 5, pp. 1039-1056.]
  		•  Phlogopite
    KMg
     
    3
    		[(OH,F)
     
    2
    		|AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		]
    Description: Ti-phlogopite in Cr-diopside pyroxenits.
    Reference: [Eur. J. Mineral. , 1993, 5, pp. 1039-1056.]
  		•  Spinel
    MgAl
     
    2
    		O
     
    4
    Description: - Cr/Al spinels in lherzolites - Al/Mg green spinels in Al-diopside pyroxenites
    Reference: [Eur. J. Mineral. , 1993, 5, pp. 1039-1056.]
  		•  Tremolite
    ☐[Ca
     
    2
    		][Mg
     
    5
    		][(OH)
     
    2
    		|Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    22
    		]
    Reference: [Eur. J. Mineral. , 1993, 5, pp. 1039-1056.]


    17 entries listed. 10 valid minerals.

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