Quartz with Hematite, Chlorite & Barite, Jan Coetzee Mine, Nababeep, Northern Cape, South Africa

If this quartz could talk! There is much to describe here from both a mineralogical and historical perspective. The quartz itself is large, measuring 15 cm long and weighing just over 700 grams! The crystal has a "cathedral" habit with three distinct terminations and good luster. The terminations are all very sharp, with only a minor nick on one of the points. Near the basal contact, the quartz tried growing another termination but is not quite doubly-terminated. There is a slight reddish colour to the quartz which is due to hematite as either inclusions or a coating. Greenish chlorite also partially coats about have of the quartz leaving the other half clear and highly lustrous. Finally, there are several barite and calcite crystals attached to the sides of the mighty quartz like barnacles on a blue whale. The minerals present here are classic combination from the locality. 

A recent summary of the Jan Coetzee Mine by Bruce Cairncross (see: "The Jan Coetzee Mine, Okiep Copper District, Northern Cape Province, South Africa" in Rocks & Minerals, Volume 100, Number 5, Pages 432-451), leads me to believe this specimen is from the famous 1966 "quartz cave" discovery at the mine. Reports depict a 6 x 12 x 12 m cavity where the "floor, walls and roof were covered by thousands of quartz crystals of all sizes". The pre-1976 label accompanying our specimen simply states "Nababeep" but the assortment of minerals attached to this quartz (hematite, chlorite and barite) help fingerprint the specimen to the Jan Coetzee, which is a few kilometres north of Nababeep. The aforementioned label is from Apex Minerals, a Vancouver-based mineral dealership, that was co-operated by geologist Sarah Topham. This specimen has been in Sarah's personal collection since Apex ceased operating in the late 1970s.

This beautiful specimen is certainly a must for a serious quartz or African collection, with a terrific connection to a pioneering Canadian mineral dealer.

Ex Sarah Topham collection. From: Jan Coetzee Mine, Nababeep, Okiep Copper District, Namakwa District Municipality, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Dimensions: 5.5 x 15 cm