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D-Block Mine, Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzaniai
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| D-Block Mine | Mine |
| Merelani Hills | Group of Hills |
| Lelatema Mountains | Mountain Range |
| Simanjiro District | District |
| Manyara Region | Region |
| Tanzania | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
3° 32' 58'' South , 37° 2' 5'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
A gem (Tanzanite) mine.
Production is from small groups of miners (350 pits). Subdivided into 3 areas; D-1 (1.81 km²), D-2 (0.04 km²), D-3 (0.003 km²). There are also 4 extension blocks of area D.
Coordinates are for the "Block D Tanzanite mining Controlled area" on Google Earth Pro.
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
21 valid minerals.
Detailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Alabandite Formula: MnS |
| ⓘ Allanite-(Ce) Formula: (CaCe)(AlAlFe2+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) References: |
| ⓘ 'Apophyllite Group' Formula: AB4[Si8O22]X · 8H2O |
| ⓘ Axinite-(Mg) Formula: Ca2MgAl2BSi4O15OH References: |
| ⓘ Axinite-(Mn) Formula: Ca2Mn2+Al2BSi4O15(OH) |
| ⓘ Calcite Formula: CaCO3 |
| ⓘ 'Chabazite' Habit: pseudocubic |
| ⓘ Diopside Formula: CaMgSi2O6 Colour: colorless, green Fluorescence: blue |
| ⓘ Diopside var. Chromium-bearing Diopside Formula: Ca(Mg,Cr)Si2O6 References: |
| ✪ Fluorapatite Formula: Ca5(PO4)3F Colour: blue Description: see especially Rocks and Minerals 88(2), 179-183 (2013). |
| ⓘ Fluorite Formula: CaF2 Habit: cubeoctahedral Colour: colorless, purple |
| ✪ Graphite Formula: C Habit: tabular hexagonal with dominant pinacoids but notable lustrous prisms also noted. Colour: silvery gray Description: very common at the locality but some of world's best crystals were discovered in a pocket with diopside and fluorapatite in late 2007. See Rocks and Minerals 88(2) (2014). |
| ⓘ Grossular Formula: Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 Colour: green |
| ⓘ Grossular var. Tsavorite Formula: Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 References: |
| ⓘ 'Heulandite Subgroup' Formula: (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O References: |
| ⓘ Kyanite Formula: Al2(SiO4)O References: |
| ⓘ Molybdenite Formula: MoS2 Habit: Wire |
| ⓘ Prehnite Formula: Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 Habit: tabular, blocky, rosette |
| ⓘ Pyrite Formula: FeS2 Description: Often seen as inclusions in chabazite as well as on the surface of any other mineral in an assemblage since it is late stage. |
| ⓘ Rhodochrosite Formula: MnCO3 Colour: brown |
| ⓘ Sphalerite Formula: ZnS Colour: orange, red |
| ⓘ 'Stilbite Subgroup' Formula: M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O Habit: tabular Colour: colorless |
| ⓘ Titanite Formula: CaTi(SiO4)O Colour: honey, brown |
| ⓘ Tremolite Formula: ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 References: |
| ⓘ Tremolite var. Chrome-Tremolite Formula: ◻{Ca2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2 References: |
| ✪ Wurtzite Formula: (Zn,Fe)S Habit: hexagonal Colour: orange brown Description: The partly translucent to transparent wurtzite crystals from Merelani are generally 2–3 cm in
size |
| ⓘ Zircon Formula: Zr(SiO4) Description: Only seen and analyzed via SEM-EDS. |
| ✪ Zoisite Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) Habit: elongated prisms Colour: blue, purple, pink, yellow, green or multi-colored |
| ✪ Zoisite var. Tanzanite Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) Habit: elongated prisms Colour: blue, purple, pink, yellow, green or multi-colored |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Graphite | 1.CB.05a | C |
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
| ⓘ | Sphalerite | 2.CB.05a | ZnS |
| ⓘ | Wurtzite | 2.CB.45 | (Zn,Fe)S |
| ⓘ | Alabandite | 2.CD.10 | MnS |
| ⓘ | Molybdenite | 2.EA.30 | MoS2 |
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| Group 3 - Halides | |||
| ⓘ | Fluorite | 3.AB.25 | CaF2 |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| ⓘ | Rhodochrosite | 5.AB.05 | MnCO3 |
| Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates | |||
| ⓘ | Fluorapatite | 8.BN.05 | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Grossular | 9.AD.25 | Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| ⓘ | var. Tsavorite | 9.AD.25 | Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| ⓘ | Zircon | 9.AD.30 | Zr(SiO4) |
| ⓘ | Kyanite | 9.AF.15 | Al2(SiO4)O |
| ⓘ | Titanite | 9.AG.15 | CaTi(SiO4)O |
| ⓘ | Axinite-(Mg) | 9.BD.20 | Ca2MgAl2BSi4O15OH |
| ⓘ | Axinite-(Mn) | 9.BD.20 | Ca2Mn2+Al2BSi4O15(OH) |
| ⓘ | Allanite-(Ce) | 9.BG.05b | (CaCe)(AlAlFe2+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| ⓘ | Zoisite var. Tanzanite | 9.BG.10 | (CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| ⓘ | 9.BG.10 | (CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) | |
| ⓘ | Diopside var. Chromium-bearing Diopside | 9.DA.15 | Ca(Mg,Cr)Si2O6 |
| ⓘ | 9.DA.15 | CaMgSi2O6 | |
| ⓘ | Tremolite | 9.DE.10 | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | var. Chrome-Tremolite | 9.DE.10 | ◻{Ca2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Prehnite | 9.DP.20 | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Apophyllite Group' | - | AB4[Si8O22]X · 8H2O |
| ⓘ | 'Chabazite' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Heulandite Subgroup' | - | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| ⓘ | 'Stilbite Subgroup' | - | M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Allanite-(Ce) | (CaCe)(AlAlFe2+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| H | ⓘ Apophyllite Group | AB4[Si8O22]X · 8H2O |
| H | ⓘ Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| H | ⓘ Axinite-(Mg) | Ca2MgAl2BSi4O15OH |
| H | ⓘ Axinite-(Mn) | Ca2Mn2+Al2BSi4O15(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Prehnite | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Stilbite Subgroup | M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O |
| H | ⓘ Zoisite var. Tanzanite | (CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| H | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Zoisite | (CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| H | ⓘ Tremolite var. Chrome-Tremolite | ◻{Ca2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| B | Boron | |
| B | ⓘ Axinite-(Mg) | Ca2MgAl2BSi4O15OH |
| B | ⓘ Axinite-(Mn) | Ca2Mn2+Al2BSi4O15(OH) |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| C | ⓘ Graphite | C |
| C | ⓘ Rhodochrosite | MnCO3 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Allanite-(Ce) | (CaCe)(AlAlFe2+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| O | ⓘ Apophyllite Group | AB4[Si8O22]X · 8H2O |
| O | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Diopside var. Chromium-bearing Diopside | Ca(Mg,Cr)Si2O6 |
| O | ⓘ Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
| O | ⓘ Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| O | ⓘ Grossular | Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| O | ⓘ Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| O | ⓘ Kyanite | Al2(SiO4)O |
| O | ⓘ Axinite-(Mg) | Ca2MgAl2BSi4O15OH |
| O | ⓘ Axinite-(Mn) | Ca2Mn2+Al2BSi4O15(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Prehnite | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Rhodochrosite | MnCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Stilbite Subgroup | M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O |
| O | ⓘ Zoisite var. Tanzanite | (CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| O | ⓘ Titanite | CaTi(SiO4)O |
| O | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Zircon | Zr(SiO4) |
| O | ⓘ Zoisite | (CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| O | ⓘ Grossular var. Tsavorite | Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| O | ⓘ Tremolite var. Chrome-Tremolite | ◻{Ca2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| F | Fluorine | |
| F | ⓘ Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| F | ⓘ Fluorite | CaF2 |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Diopside var. Chromium-bearing Diopside | Ca(Mg,Cr)Si2O6 |
| Mg | ⓘ Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
| Mg | ⓘ Axinite-(Mg) | Ca2MgAl2BSi4O15OH |
| Mg | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Tremolite var. Chrome-Tremolite | ◻{Ca2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Allanite-(Ce) | (CaCe)(AlAlFe2+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Al | ⓘ Grossular | Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Al | ⓘ Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| Al | ⓘ Kyanite | Al2(SiO4)O |
| Al | ⓘ Axinite-(Mg) | Ca2MgAl2BSi4O15OH |
| Al | ⓘ Axinite-(Mn) | Ca2Mn2+Al2BSi4O15(OH) |
| Al | ⓘ Prehnite | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Stilbite Subgroup | M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O |
| Al | ⓘ Zoisite var. Tanzanite | (CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Al | ⓘ Zoisite | (CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Al | ⓘ Grossular var. Tsavorite | Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Allanite-(Ce) | (CaCe)(AlAlFe2+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Si | ⓘ Apophyllite Group | AB4[Si8O22]X · 8H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Diopside var. Chromium-bearing Diopside | Ca(Mg,Cr)Si2O6 |
| Si | ⓘ Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
| Si | ⓘ Grossular | Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Si | ⓘ Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| Si | ⓘ Kyanite | Al2(SiO4)O |
| Si | ⓘ Axinite-(Mg) | Ca2MgAl2BSi4O15OH |
| Si | ⓘ Axinite-(Mn) | Ca2Mn2+Al2BSi4O15(OH) |
| Si | ⓘ Prehnite | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Stilbite Subgroup | M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O |
| Si | ⓘ Zoisite var. Tanzanite | (CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Si | ⓘ Titanite | CaTi(SiO4)O |
| Si | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Zircon | Zr(SiO4) |
| Si | ⓘ Zoisite | (CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Si | ⓘ Grossular var. Tsavorite | Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Si | ⓘ Tremolite var. Chrome-Tremolite | ◻{Ca2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| P | Phosphorus | |
| P | ⓘ Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Alabandite | MnS |
| S | ⓘ Molybdenite | MoS2 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| S | ⓘ Wurtzite | (Zn,Fe)S |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Allanite-(Ce) | (CaCe)(AlAlFe2+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Ca | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | ⓘ Diopside var. Chromium-bearing Diopside | Ca(Mg,Cr)Si2O6 |
| Ca | ⓘ Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
| Ca | ⓘ Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| Ca | ⓘ Fluorite | CaF2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Grossular | Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Ca | ⓘ Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Axinite-(Mg) | Ca2MgAl2BSi4O15OH |
| Ca | ⓘ Axinite-(Mn) | Ca2Mn2+Al2BSi4O15(OH) |
| Ca | ⓘ Prehnite | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Zoisite var. Tanzanite | (CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Ca | ⓘ Titanite | CaTi(SiO4)O |
| Ca | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Zoisite | (CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Ca | ⓘ Grossular var. Tsavorite | Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Ca | ⓘ Tremolite var. Chrome-Tremolite | ◻{Ca2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| Ti | Titanium | |
| Ti | ⓘ Titanite | CaTi(SiO4)O |
| Cr | Chromium | |
| Cr | ⓘ Diopside var. Chromium-bearing Diopside | Ca(Mg,Cr)Si2O6 |
| Mn | Manganese | |
| Mn | ⓘ Alabandite | MnS |
| Mn | ⓘ Axinite-(Mn) | Ca2Mn2+Al2BSi4O15(OH) |
| Mn | ⓘ Rhodochrosite | MnCO3 |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Allanite-(Ce) | (CaCe)(AlAlFe2+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Wurtzite | (Zn,Fe)S |
| Zn | Zinc | |
| Zn | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| Zn | ⓘ Wurtzite | (Zn,Fe)S |
| Zr | Zirconium | |
| Zr | ⓘ Zircon | Zr(SiO4) |
| Mo | Molybdenum | |
| Mo | ⓘ Molybdenite | MoS2 |
| Ce | Cerium | |
| Ce | ⓘ Allanite-(Ce) | (CaCe)(AlAlFe2+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
AfricaContinent
- East African Rift System (EARS)Zone (Tectonic)
African Plate
- Tanzanian Eastern GranulitesOrogenic Belt
Somali PlateTectonic Plate
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D-Block Mine, Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania