Vanadinite from Mibladen, Morocco – Red Crystals with Two-Tone Coloration

This Vanadinite specimen from Mibladen near Midelt, Morocco shows numerous vivid red to dark red Vanadinite crystals on a pale matrix. Particularly interesting is the difference in color between the crystal faces: while the front-facing areas are predominantly intense red, many of the rear crystal faces show a beige to brown coloration.

Measuring 5.5 × 3.5 × 2.0 cm and weighing 66.1 g including the acrylic base, this is a small cabinet specimen. The numerous hexagonally developed crystals form a compact, three-dimensional crystal group.

Red Vanadinite crystals with differently colored crystal faces

The Vanadinite crystals are predominantly short-prismatic to thick-tabular and hexagonal in habit. The front-facing crystal surfaces show vivid red to dark red tones, while the rear sides of many crystals are noticeably paler and beige to brown.

The specimen is opaque. The crystal faces show a noticeable luster, especially on the strongly red areas.

Several rear-facing terminations show stepped and partly etched-looking surface structures. Such variations in crystal surfaces and coloration are known from Vanadinite from the Mibladen mining district and add further mineralogical interest to the specimen.

One crystal shows a minor damage, which is mainly visible from the side and only slightly affects the overall appearance of the specimen.

Vanadinite from Mibladen, Morocco

The Mibladen mining district near Midelt is one of the classic and internationally known localities for Vanadinite. Its oxidation zones have produced numerous Vanadinite specimens in different shades of red, orange and brown, as well as a wide variety of crystal forms and surface structures.

This specimen combines the characteristic hexagonal Vanadinite habit of Mibladen with a striking color variation between the red front-facing crystal surfaces and the beige to brown rear faces.