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Bu Craa (Bou Craa; Boukraa), Laâyoune Cercle, Laâyoune Province, Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra Region, Moroccoi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Bu Craa (Bou Craa; Boukraa) | Mine |
| Laâyoune Cercle | Cercle |
| Laâyoune Province | Province |
| Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra Region | Region |
| Morocco | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
26° 19' 6'' North , 12° 51' 7'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
Boucraa
The open pit phosphate mines operated by Phosboucraa (Fosbucraa).
Located near the small village of Bu Craa (Bou Craa), in the northern part of the Western Sahara, approximately 100 kms SW of the second major town of Smara.
The deposit is one of the largest phosphate mines in the world, producing around 2.4 million tons per annum.
The deposits (Oued Eddahab Phosphate deposits) are of sedimentary origin and of Upper Cretaceous-Palaeocene and Eocene age. They consist of two phosphate-bearing layers. Commonly, the quartz-bearing geodes (see below) are found in the upper layer or above.
For a discussion on the chalcedony specimens from here, see: https://www.mindat.org/mesg-622024.html
Note: the snow-white quartz geodes offered under the name "Smara" on European shows or eBay are actually coming from the phosphate mines of Bu Craa.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsCommodity List
This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.Mineral List
2 valid minerals.
Detailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Calcite Formula: CaCO3 References: https://www.mindat.org/photo-609885.htmlIdentification: Visual Identification |
| ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 References: https://www.mindat.org/photo-934201.htmlIdentification: Visual Identification |
| ⓘ Quartz var. Chalcedony Formula: SiO2 References: https://www.mindat.org/photo-934201.htmlIdentification: Visual Identification |
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Quartz var. Chalcedony | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 | |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| C | Carbon | |
|---|---|---|
| C | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Quartz var. Chalcedony | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz var. Chalcedony | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
AfricaContinent
- Sahara DesertDesert
African PlateTectonic Plate
- Aaiun-Tarfaya basinBasin
- MauritanidesOrogenic Belt
Northwest Africa MeteoritesGroup of Meteorite Fall Locations
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Bu Craa, Laâyoune Cercle, Laâyoune Province, Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra Region, Morocco