Antsongombato gem mine, Antsentsindrano, Anosiarivo Manapa, Betafo District, Vakinankaratra, Madagascari
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Antsongombato gem mine | Mine |
| Antsentsindrano | Fokotany |
| Anosiarivo Manapa | Commune |
| Betafo District | District |
| Vakinankaratra | Region |
| Madagascar | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
20° South , 46° East (est.)
Estimate based on other nearby localities or region boundaries.
Margin of Error:
~20km
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
Andrembesoa
Other Languages:
Malagasy:
Fihadiam-baton' Antsongombato, Antsentsindrano, Kaominin'i Anosiarivo Manapa, Distrikan'i Betafo, Vakinankaratra, Madagasikara
Antsongombato gem mine refers to a small area where several LCT pegmatite dykes (of danburite subtype) have been worked for gems, mostly red tourmaline and yellow londonite-rhodizite. Famous for its large (up to 7 cm) yellow crystals of londonite-rhodizite and for being the type locality of schiavinatoite.
The locality is situated on the north side of Manentoakoho, near Andohasahakambana, 4 km ESE of the small village Antsentsindrano which is situated 25 km southwest of Mahaiza (a relatively easily accessible marketplace) and south of the town of Betafo in the central highland of Madagascar.
French colonists started mining here for red tourmaline at the beginning of the 20th century. It was abandoned in the 1930s. Later, in 1964-1965, a French colonist mined here, mostly for rhodizite specimens. In 1998, after thorough investigations in the area, the Malagasy company "Pyramide" started specimen mining here, especially for rhodizite-londonite specimens. Many good quality specimens were then recovered. The largest and best specimens of rhodizite-londonite came from one dike which measured 400 m long and 10-60 cm thick (Laurs et al., 2002). In January 2001 the Pyramide company ceased their activities in the area. The area is still being worked at a much smaller scale for mineral specimens.
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
23 valid minerals. 1 (TL) - type locality of valid minerals.
Detailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Albite Formula: Na(AlSi3O8) Colour: white |
| ⓘ Béhierite Formula: Ta(BO4) |
| ⓘ Beryl Formula: Be3Al2(Si6O18) Description: Cs-rich |
| ⓘ Bismutite Formula: (BiO)2CO3 References: |
| ⓘ Bityite Formula: CaLiAl2(AlBeSi2O10)(OH)2 References: |
| ⓘ Chambersite Formula: Mn2+3(B7O13)Cl Colour: Colorless Description: Tiny inclusions in rhodizite-londonite. |
| ⓘ Columbite-(Mn) Formula: Mn2+Nb2O6 |
| ⓘ 'Columbite-(Mn)-Tantalite-(Mn) Series' Description: See Pavel M. Kartashov comments on columbite-(Mn) in the caption of photo http://www.mindat.org/photo-114523.html.
References: |
| ⓘ Cryptomelane Formula: K(Mn4+7Mn3+)O16 References: |
| ⓘ Danburite Formula: CaB2Si2O8 |
| ⓘ 'Elbaite-Liddicoatite Series' ? Description: new nomenclature |
| ⓘ Fluorapatite Formula: Ca5(PO4)3F |
| ⓘ Fluorapatite var. Manganese-bearing Fluorapatite Formula: (Ca,Mn2+)5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH) or Ca5([P,Mn5+]O4)3(F,Cl,OH) Colour: blue; Prusse blue Description: A. Lacroix (1912) suggest that the blue tourmaline mentioned by Duparc et al(1910) is a misnomer for "manganapatite" which occured abundantly at the locality. |
| ⓘ Hübnerite Formula: MnWO4 |
| ⓘ 'K Feldspar' Colour: grey |
| ⓘ 'Lepidolite' References: Duparc, Louis, Wunder, M., Sabot, R. (1910) Les Minéraux des Pegmatites des environs d'Antsirabé a Madagascar. Mémoires de la Société de Physique et d'Histoire Naturelle de Geneve Vol. 36 (3) Stevens, Rollin E. (1938) New analyses of lepidolites and their interpretation. American Mineralogist, 23 (10) 607-628 sample from Antsomgombato collected by Lacroix used in the study |
| ✪ Londonite Formula: (Cs,K,Rb)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28 Habit: Up to 7 cm large crystals formed by dodecahedra {110} modified by deltoid dodecahedral{221}, tristetrahedral{211} and tetrahedral faces {111} Colour: white to sulfur yellow |
| ✪ 'Londonite-Rhodizite Series' Habit: Forms: Dodecahedral {110} faces modified by deltoid dodecahedral {221}, tristetrahedral {211}, and tetrahedral {111} faces, rarely cubic {100} faces. Colour: Pale yellowish greenish Description: Specimens of rhodizite/londonite, when not individually determined chemically from this locality should be designed londonite-rhodizite series. Crystal up to 10 cm across found frozen in pegmatite matrix, in the more chemical evolved portions of the dikes charcateized by green and red tourmaline |
| ⓘ Microcline Formula: K(AlSi3O8) |
| ⓘ 'Microlite Group' Formula: A2-mTa2X6-wZ-n Description: U-rich variety |
| ⓘ 'Monazite Group' Formula: REE(PO4) |
| ⓘ Montmorillonite Formula: (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O Description: Maybe a pseudomorph ? after another mineral. |
| ⓘ Native Bismuth Formula: Bi References: |
| ⓘ Pollucite Formula: (Cs,Na)2(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2O |
| ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 |
| ⓘ Quartz var. Smoky Quartz Formula: SiO2 Description: massive |
| ⓘ Rhodizite Formula: (K,Cs)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28 |
| ⓘ Schiavinatoite (TL) Formula: Nb(BO4) Type Locality: Habit: as cryptocrystalline portions in behierite |
| ⓘ Spodumene Formula: LiAlSi2O6 Colour: pink, colorless, pink |
| ⓘ Tantalite-(Mn) Formula: Mn2+Ta2O6 |
| ⓘ 'Tourmaline' Formula: AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| ⓘ 'Tourmaline var. Rubellite' Formula: A(D3)G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| ⓘ Xenotime-(Y) Formula: Y(PO4) |
| ⓘ 'Zinnwaldite' |
| ⓘ Zircon Formula: Zr(SiO4) Description: Hf-rich |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Native Bismuth | 1.CA.05 | Bi |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | 'Microlite Group' | 4.00. | A2-mTa2X6-wZ-n |
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | var. Smoky Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | Hübnerite | 4.DB.30 | MnWO4 |
| ⓘ | Columbite-(Mn) | 4.DB.35 | Mn2+Nb2O6 |
| ⓘ | Tantalite-(Mn) | 4.DB.35 | Mn2+Ta2O6 |
| ⓘ | Cryptomelane | 4.DK.05a | K(Mn4+7Mn3+)O16 |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Bismutite | 5.BE.25 | (BiO)2CO3 |
| Group 6 - Borates | |||
| ⓘ | Béhierite | 6.AC.15 | Ta(BO4) |
| ⓘ | Schiavinatoite (TL) | 6.AC.15 | Nb(BO4) |
| ⓘ | Chambersite | 6.GA.05 | Mn2+3(B7O13)Cl |
| ⓘ | Rhodizite | 6.GC.05 | (K,Cs)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28 |
| ⓘ | Londonite | 6.GC.05 | (Cs,K,Rb)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28 |
| Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates | |||
| ⓘ | Xenotime-(Y) | 8.AD.35 | Y(PO4) |
| ⓘ | Fluorapatite | 8.BN.05 | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| ⓘ | var. Manganese-bearing Fluorapatite | 8.BN.05 | (Ca,Mn2+)5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH) or Ca5([P,Mn5+]O4)3(F,Cl,OH) |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Zircon | 9.AD.30 | Zr(SiO4) |
| ⓘ | Beryl | 9.CJ.05 | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| ⓘ | Spodumene | 9.DA.30 | LiAlSi2O6 |
| ⓘ | Bityite | 9.EC.35 | CaLiAl2(AlBeSi2O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Montmorillonite | 9.EC.40 | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| ⓘ | Microcline | 9.FA.30 | K(AlSi3O8) |
| ⓘ | Albite | 9.FA.35 | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| ⓘ | Danburite | 9.FA.65 | CaB2Si2O8 |
| ⓘ | Pollucite | 9.GB.05 | (Cs,Na)2(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2O |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Lepidolite' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Monazite Group' | - | REE(PO4) |
| ⓘ | 'Tourmaline var. Rubellite' | - | A(D3)G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| ⓘ | '' | - | AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| ⓘ | 'Zinnwaldite' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'K Feldspar' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Elbaite-Liddicoatite Series' ? | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Londonite-Rhodizite Series' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Columbite-(Mn)-Tantalite-(Mn) Series' | - | |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Bityite | CaLiAl2(AlBeSi2O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Fluorapatite var. Manganese-bearing Fluorapatite | (Ca,Mn2+)5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH) or Ca5([P,Mn5+]O4)3(F,Cl,OH) |
| H | ⓘ Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| H | ⓘ Pollucite | (Cs,Na)2(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2O |
| H | ⓘ Zinnwaldite | |
| H | ⓘ Elbaite-Liddicoatite Series | |
| Li | Lithium | |
| Li | ⓘ Bityite | CaLiAl2(AlBeSi2O10)(OH)2 |
| Li | ⓘ Spodumene | LiAlSi2O6 |
| Li | ⓘ Zinnwaldite | |
| Li | ⓘ Elbaite-Liddicoatite Series | |
| Be | Beryllium | |
| Be | ⓘ Bityite | CaLiAl2(AlBeSi2O10)(OH)2 |
| Be | ⓘ Beryl | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| Be | ⓘ Rhodizite | (K,Cs)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28 |
| Be | ⓘ Londonite | (Cs,K,Rb)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28 |
| Be | ⓘ Londonite-Rhodizite Series | |
| B | Boron | |
| B | ⓘ Béhierite | Ta(BO4) |
| B | ⓘ Chambersite | Mn32+(B7O13)Cl |
| B | ⓘ Danburite | CaB2Si2O8 |
| B | ⓘ Rhodizite | (K,Cs)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28 |
| B | ⓘ Tourmaline var. Rubellite | A(D3)G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| B | ⓘ Tourmaline | AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| B | ⓘ Londonite | (Cs,K,Rb)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28 |
| B | ⓘ Schiavinatoite | Nb(BO4) |
| B | ⓘ Elbaite-Liddicoatite Series | |
| B | ⓘ Londonite-Rhodizite Series | |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Bismutite | (BiO)2CO3 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| O | ⓘ Béhierite | Ta(BO4) |
| O | ⓘ Bismutite | (BiO)2CO3 |
| O | ⓘ Bityite | CaLiAl2(AlBeSi2O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Beryl | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| O | ⓘ Chambersite | Mn32+(B7O13)Cl |
| O | ⓘ Cryptomelane | K(Mn74+Mn3+)O16 |
| O | ⓘ Danburite | CaB2Si2O8 |
| O | ⓘ Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| O | ⓘ Hübnerite | MnWO4 |
| O | ⓘ Columbite-(Mn) | Mn2+Nb2O6 |
| O | ⓘ Tantalite-(Mn) | Mn2+Ta2O6 |
| O | ⓘ Fluorapatite var. Manganese-bearing Fluorapatite | (Ca,Mn2+)5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH) or Ca5([P,Mn5+]O4)3(F,Cl,OH) |
| O | ⓘ Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| O | ⓘ Monazite Group | REE(PO4) |
| O | ⓘ Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| O | ⓘ Pollucite | (Cs,Na)2(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2O |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Rhodizite | (K,Cs)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28 |
| O | ⓘ Tourmaline var. Rubellite | A(D3)G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| O | ⓘ Quartz var. Smoky Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Spodumene | LiAlSi2O6 |
| O | ⓘ Tourmaline | AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| O | ⓘ Xenotime-(Y) | Y(PO4) |
| O | ⓘ Zinnwaldite | |
| O | ⓘ Zircon | Zr(SiO4) |
| O | ⓘ Londonite | (Cs,K,Rb)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28 |
| O | ⓘ Schiavinatoite | Nb(BO4) |
| O | ⓘ Elbaite-Liddicoatite Series | |
| O | ⓘ Londonite-Rhodizite Series | |
| F | Fluorine | |
| F | ⓘ Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| F | ⓘ Fluorapatite var. Manganese-bearing Fluorapatite | (Ca,Mn2+)5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH) or Ca5([P,Mn5+]O4)3(F,Cl,OH) |
| F | ⓘ Zinnwaldite | |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Na | ⓘ Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Na | ⓘ Pollucite | (Cs,Na)2(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2O |
| Na | ⓘ Elbaite-Liddicoatite Series | |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Al | ⓘ Bityite | CaLiAl2(AlBeSi2O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Beryl | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| Al | ⓘ Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| Al | ⓘ Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Al | ⓘ Pollucite | (Cs,Na)2(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Rhodizite | (K,Cs)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28 |
| Al | ⓘ Spodumene | LiAlSi2O6 |
| Al | ⓘ Zinnwaldite | |
| Al | ⓘ Londonite | (Cs,K,Rb)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28 |
| Al | ⓘ Elbaite-Liddicoatite Series | |
| Al | ⓘ Londonite-Rhodizite Series | |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Si | ⓘ Bityite | CaLiAl2(AlBeSi2O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Beryl | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| Si | ⓘ Danburite | CaB2Si2O8 |
| Si | ⓘ Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| Si | ⓘ Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Si | ⓘ Pollucite | (Cs,Na)2(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz var. Smoky Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Spodumene | LiAlSi2O6 |
| Si | ⓘ Zinnwaldite | |
| Si | ⓘ Zircon | Zr(SiO4) |
| Si | ⓘ Elbaite-Liddicoatite Series | |
| P | Phosphorus | |
| P | ⓘ Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| P | ⓘ Fluorapatite var. Manganese-bearing Fluorapatite | (Ca,Mn2+)5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH) or Ca5([P,Mn5+]O4)3(F,Cl,OH) |
| P | ⓘ Monazite Group | REE(PO4) |
| P | ⓘ Xenotime-(Y) | Y(PO4) |
| Cl | Chlorine | |
| Cl | ⓘ Chambersite | Mn32+(B7O13)Cl |
| Cl | ⓘ Fluorapatite var. Manganese-bearing Fluorapatite | (Ca,Mn2+)5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH) or Ca5([P,Mn5+]O4)3(F,Cl,OH) |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Cryptomelane | K(Mn74+Mn3+)O16 |
| K | ⓘ Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| K | ⓘ Rhodizite | (K,Cs)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28 |
| K | ⓘ Zinnwaldite | |
| K | ⓘ Londonite | (Cs,K,Rb)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28 |
| K | ⓘ Londonite-Rhodizite Series | |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Bityite | CaLiAl2(AlBeSi2O10)(OH)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Danburite | CaB2Si2O8 |
| Ca | ⓘ Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| Ca | ⓘ Fluorapatite var. Manganese-bearing Fluorapatite | (Ca,Mn2+)5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH) or Ca5([P,Mn5+]O4)3(F,Cl,OH) |
| Ca | ⓘ Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Elbaite-Liddicoatite Series | |
| Mn | Manganese | |
| Mn | ⓘ Chambersite | Mn32+(B7O13)Cl |
| Mn | ⓘ Cryptomelane | K(Mn74+Mn3+)O16 |
| Mn | ⓘ Hübnerite | MnWO4 |
| Mn | ⓘ Columbite-(Mn) | Mn2+Nb2O6 |
| Mn | ⓘ Tantalite-(Mn) | Mn2+Ta2O6 |
| Mn | ⓘ Fluorapatite var. Manganese-bearing Fluorapatite | (Ca,Mn2+)5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH) or Ca5([P,Mn5+]O4)3(F,Cl,OH) |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Zinnwaldite | |
| Rb | Rubidium | |
| Rb | ⓘ Londonite | (Cs,K,Rb)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28 |
| Rb | ⓘ Londonite-Rhodizite Series | |
| Y | Yttrium | |
| Y | ⓘ Xenotime-(Y) | Y(PO4) |
| Zr | Zirconium | |
| Zr | ⓘ Zircon | Zr(SiO4) |
| Nb | Niobium | |
| Nb | ⓘ Columbite-(Mn) | Mn2+Nb2O6 |
| Nb | ⓘ Schiavinatoite | Nb(BO4) |
| Cs | Caesium | |
| Cs | ⓘ Pollucite | (Cs,Na)2(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2O |
| Cs | ⓘ Rhodizite | (K,Cs)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28 |
| Cs | ⓘ Londonite | (Cs,K,Rb)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28 |
| Cs | ⓘ Londonite-Rhodizite Series | |
| Ta | Tantalum | |
| Ta | ⓘ Béhierite | Ta(BO4) |
| Ta | ⓘ Tantalite-(Mn) | Mn2+Ta2O6 |
| Ta | ⓘ Microlite Group | A2-mTa2X6-wZ-n |
| W | Tungsten | |
| W | ⓘ Hübnerite | MnWO4 |
| Bi | Bismuth | |
| Bi | ⓘ Native Bismuth | Bi |
| Bi | ⓘ Bismutite | (BiO)2CO3 |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
AfricaContinent
African Plate
- BemItremo BlockOrogenic Belt
Madagascar
- Ankaratra Volcanic RangeVolcanic Range
- ⭔Antananarivo ProvinceProvince
Somali PlateTectonic Plate
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References
Duparc, Louis, Wunder, M., Sabot, R. (1910) Les Minéraux des Pegmatites des environs d'Antsirabé a Madagascar. Mémoires de la Société de Physique et d'Histoire Naturelle de Geneve Vol. 36 (3)
Lacroix, Alfred (1912) Sur quelques minéraux des pegmatites du Vakinankaratra (Madagascar) Bulletin de Minéralogie, 35 (2) 76-84 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1912.3497pp.76-84
Demartin, Francesco; Diella, Valeria; Gramaccioli, Carlo M.; Pezzotta, Federico (2001) Schiavinatoite, (Nb,Ta)BO4, the Nb analogue of behierite. European Journal of Mineralogy, 13 (1). 159-165 doi:10.1127/0935-1221/01/0013-0159
Simmons, W. B.; Pezzotta, F.; Falster, A. U.; Webber, K. L. (2001) Londonite, a new mineral species: the Cs-dominant analogue of rhodizite from the Antandrokomby granitic pegmatite, Madagascar. The Canadian Mineralogist, 39 (3). 747-755 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.39.3.747
Antsongombato gem mine, Antsentsindrano, Anosiarivo Manapa, Betafo District, Vakinankaratra, Madagascar