Schorl Tourmaline from the Erongo Mountains, Namibia

This mineral specimen comes from the Erongo Mountains in Namibia’s Erongo Region, one of the best-known mineral-producing areas in Africa. The specimen features a lustrous schorl crystal, the black variety of tourmaline, on natural matrix and represents the characteristic tourmaline mineralization of the granitic pegmatites of the Erongo Massif. The longest crystal on this specimen measures 1.2 cm.

Special Features of This Mineral Specimen

The deep-black schorl displays vitreous luster and the typical prismatic crystal habit of tourmaline. Its natural intergrowth with the matrix gives the specimen a balanced overall appearance and makes it an attractive collector’s piece. Schorl from the Erongo Mountains is especially appreciated by mineral collectors for its good crystal quality and its origin from this renowned mineral region.

Locality

The Erongo Mountains in western Namibia are among the world’s most important localities for pegmatite minerals. In addition to schorl, the region is known for aquamarine, smoky quartz, fluorite, feldspar, and numerous other minerals. This geologically remarkable area is internationally known for well-developed crystals and is considered one of Africa’s classic mineral localities.