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Improving Mindat.orgQuartz geodes from Smara / Foto ID: 138863.

20th Dec 2007 20:29 UTCKarel Bal

Hi,


Recent you can find nice snow-white quartz geodes on some European shows or on ebay labeled only as "Smara",this is not entirely correct.In fact they comes from worlds largest phosphate mines of Bru Craa.

The openpit mines with draglines operated by Phosboucraa(Fosbucraa)are situated in the northern part of the Western Sahara,approx.100km.southwest of the second major town of Smara.

These deposits(Oued Eddahab Phosphate deposits)are of sedimentary origin:

Upper Cretaceous-Palaeocene and Eocene sediments,and concist of two phosphate bearing layers.Commonly the geodes are found in the upper layer or above.

The mines themselves are located near the small village of:


Bu Craa(Bou Craa)

Laâyoune Province

Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra Region

Western Sahara

Morocco


Lat: 26°19'07"N

Lon: 12°51'08"W


Greetings,

Karel

30th Dec 2007 19:27 UTCKarel Bal

Correct,nice job Uwe,


By the way,the city of Smara has been indeed located in another region and province:

Smara, Es Semara Province, Guelmim-Es Smara Region, Morocco

Map Ref.26°44'N / 11°40'W


Thanks

Glückauf

Karel

30th Dec 2007 19:36 UTCUwe Kolitsch Manager

159212: "Western Sahara" replaced with correct region.



Cheers, Uwe

14th Mar 2011 14:41 UTCHans-Jürgen Haas

Hi dear Friends


What do you think from where this Quartz Geode is From?


Bou Craa or from Smara?


Many thanks for your help in advance

and best greets form Bavaria


Hans Jürgen

14th Mar 2011 22:27 UTCKarel Bal

Hello Hans,


Geodes labeled as "Smara-Morocco" are actually from Bou Craa, but it is impossible to tell where your specimen comes from.

One thing is sure this geode was not found in eruptive rock, The light brown sandy-beige outside is typical of geodes occurring in sedimentary layers as phosphate.

So there is always a possibility that your geode comes from one of the many phosphate mines in Morocco.

I have attached some "Smara"examples.


Glückauf

Karel
 
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