Detailed information
Species
Gageite
Dimensions
30 x 30 x 14
mm
Weight
8 g
Locality
N'Chwaning Mines Kuruman, Kalahari Mn. Field N. Cape Province, South Africa
Condition
No recorded repairs
Gageite is certainly one for the dedicated rare species enthusiast. A complex manganese silicate oxide hydroxide, it was first described from the famous manganese deposit at Franklin, New Jersey in the early 20th century and has subsequently been identified in a couple of dozen other metamorphosed manganese deposits worldwide, but it is rarely attractive. Most commonly (and that is rare), it forms cinnamon-brown coloured fibrous to acicular crystals and in this rich miniature specimen from the famous N'Chwaning mines in the Kalahari Mn. Field, North Cape Province, South Africa it occurs as felt-like matted fibres covering most of the top surface of the specimen. This one is from the superb systematic collection assembled by the brothers Martin and Michael Günther (1951-2007 & 1956-2021).