Okorusu Mine (Okarusu Mine), Otjiwarongo District, Otjozondjupa Region, Namibia
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| Latitude & Longitude (WGS84): | 20° 1' 59'' South , 16° 46' 0'' East |
|---|---|
| Latitude & Longitude (decimal): | -20.0333333333, 16.7666666667 |
An open pit fluorite mine located 48 (40?) km north of Otjiwarango. Part of an alkaline igneous-carbonatite ring dike complex where fluorite has replaced pegmatitic carbonatite.
Mined since around 1920. Since 1988 operated by Okorusu Fluorspar (Pty) Ltd. Sold in 1997 to Solvay SA.
The mine is famous for outstanding blue and green fluorite crystals, often with phantoms. The mine management allows a specimen miner (Peter Eysselein) to extract fluorite specimens to be sold on the international market (Brandstetter, 2011).
The Early-Cretaceous alkaline rocks/sövite complex intruded Late Precambrian Damara series (quartzites, marbles and biotite schists). The metasedimentary rocks have been fenitized in the vicinity of the intrusion. Fluorite also replaces host-rocks (marbles and biotite schists).
REE-bearing minerals occur in beforsitic carbonatite dikes and carbonate-fluorite-bearing metasomatites. Their HREE content is significant.
Mineral List
25 valid minerals.
The above list contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to
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References
Daul, J., Bauer, K. & Moser, P. (1993): Bergbau in Namiba - Erfahrungen einer Studienreise. Institut für Bergbaukunde, Bergtechnik und Bergwirtschaft, Wissenschaftliche Schriftenreihe No. 3, Leoben, Austria, 130 pp (in German).
Kogut, A. I., Hagni, R. D. & Schneider, G. I. C. (1998): Geology, mineralogy, and paragenetic sequence of the Okorusu carbonatite-related fluorite ores, Namibia. In: Ed. Hagni, R. D., Proc. 9th Quadrenn. IAGOD Symp., 1994, 555-573.
Rustemeyer, P. (2000): Okosuru: Fundstelle attraktiver Fluorite in Namibia. Lapis 25(3), 24-29, 50 (in German).
Buhn, B., Rankin, A.H., Schneider, J. and Dulski, P. (2002). The nature of orthomagmatic carbonatitic fluids precipitating REE, Sr-rich fluorite: fluid-inclusion evidence from the Okorusu fluorite deposit, Namibia. Chemical Geology, 186, 75-98.
Orris, G.J., and Grauch, R.I. (2002): Rare earth element mines, deposits, and occurrences. USGS Open-File Report 02-189.
Cairncross, B. (2004) Field Guide To Rocks & Minerals Of Southern Africa: 47.
Hagni, R.D., , and Viladkar, S.G., (2006) Similarities And Disimilarities Between The Fluorspar Deposits At The Amba Dongar, India And Okorusu, Namibia Carbonatite Complexes. in Geological Association of Canada, Program with Abstracts Volume 31
Brandstetter, R. (2011): Aus der Okorusu Mine in Namibia: Neue Fluoritfunde mit spektakulären Phantombildungen. Lapis 36 (9), 13-23; 62.
Van der Meersche, E. & Brandstetter, R. (2011): Sensationell flächenreiche Fluorite aus dem B-Pit der Okorusu Mine, Namibia. Lapis 36 (9), 24-26; 62.
Mineral. Record: 20(5), 396.
Kogut, A. I., Hagni, R. D. & Schneider, G. I. C. (1998): Geology, mineralogy, and paragenetic sequence of the Okorusu carbonatite-related fluorite ores, Namibia. In: Ed. Hagni, R. D., Proc. 9th Quadrenn. IAGOD Symp., 1994, 555-573.
Rustemeyer, P. (2000): Okosuru: Fundstelle attraktiver Fluorite in Namibia. Lapis 25(3), 24-29, 50 (in German).
Buhn, B., Rankin, A.H., Schneider, J. and Dulski, P. (2002). The nature of orthomagmatic carbonatitic fluids precipitating REE, Sr-rich fluorite: fluid-inclusion evidence from the Okorusu fluorite deposit, Namibia. Chemical Geology, 186, 75-98.
Orris, G.J., and Grauch, R.I. (2002): Rare earth element mines, deposits, and occurrences. USGS Open-File Report 02-189.
Cairncross, B. (2004) Field Guide To Rocks & Minerals Of Southern Africa: 47.
Hagni, R.D., , and Viladkar, S.G., (2006) Similarities And Disimilarities Between The Fluorspar Deposits At The Amba Dongar, India And Okorusu, Namibia Carbonatite Complexes. in Geological Association of Canada, Program with Abstracts Volume 31
Brandstetter, R. (2011): Aus der Okorusu Mine in Namibia: Neue Fluoritfunde mit spektakulären Phantombildungen. Lapis 36 (9), 13-23; 62.
Van der Meersche, E. & Brandstetter, R. (2011): Sensationell flächenreiche Fluorite aus dem B-Pit der Okorusu Mine, Namibia. Lapis 36 (9), 24-26; 62.
Mineral. Record: 20(5), 396.
Okorusu Mine, Otjiwarongo District, Otjozondjupa Region, Namibia