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Gravelotte Emerald Mine, Gravelotte, Murchison Range, Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo, South Africai
Regional Level Types
Gravelotte Emerald MineMine
Gravelotte- not defined -
Murchison RangeMountain Range
Ba-Phalaborwa Local MunicipalityMunicipality
Mopani District MunicipalityMunicipality
LimpopoProvince
South AfricaCountry

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PhotosMapsSearchMineralogy
04510720017272056632168.jpg
Molybdenite, etc.

Gravelotte Emerald Mine, Gravelotte, Murchison Range, Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa
02135030017272036122805.jpg
Emerald

Cobra pit, Gravelotte Emerald Mine, Gravelotte, Murchison Range, Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa
04136380017272056641441.jpg
Emerald

Cobra pit, Gravelotte Emerald Mine, Gravelotte, Murchison Range, Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa
09221480017272036126392.jpg
Emerald

Cobra pit, Gravelotte Emerald Mine, Gravelotte, Murchison Range, Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa
02000510017272039125772.jpg
Molybdenite, etc.

Gravelotte Emerald Mine, Gravelotte, Murchison Range, Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa
08050780017272036072718.jpg
Emerald

Cobra pit, Gravelotte Emerald Mine, Gravelotte, Murchison Range, Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa
04136380017272056641441.jpg
Emerald

Cobra pit, Gravelotte Emerald Mine, Gravelotte, Murchison Range, Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa
07838520017272036086847.jpg
Emerald

Cobra pit, Gravelotte Emerald Mine, Gravelotte, Murchison Range, Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa
02000510017272039125772.jpg
Molybdenite, etc.

Gravelotte Emerald Mine, Gravelotte, Murchison Range, Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa
02135030017272036122805.jpg
Emerald

Cobra pit, Gravelotte Emerald Mine, Gravelotte, Murchison Range, Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
23° 57' 48'' South , 30° 38' 29'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
-23.96354,30.64149
GRN:
S16E20
Type:
Mine
Köppen climate type:
BSh : Hot semi-arid (steppe) climate
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Nkowakowa30,138 (2014)37.0km
Tzaneen16,954 (2013)50.7km
Phalaborwa109,468 (2012)50.8km
Ga-Kgapane13,000 (2013)55.4km
Mindat Locality ID:
26417
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:26417:9
GUID (UUID V4):
0


Emeralds crystallized where beryllium-bearing, potassium-rich pegmatites intruded into ultramafic komatiitic schists of the Murchison Greenstone Belt.

Emeralds are principally hosted within the biotitic alteration envelope that surrounds the pegmatite; these represent localized zones of intense potassic alteration.

One of the world's oldest emerald deposits. Emeralds have been mined from the main Cobra pit, since 1927.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded from this region.


Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

16 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded


Rock list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Actinolite
Formula: ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
ⓘ Albite
Formula: Na(AlSi3O8)
ⓘ 'Apatite'
Formula: Ca5(PO4)3A
ⓘ Beryl
Formula: Be3Al2(Si6O18)
ⓘ Beryl var. Emerald
Formula: Be3Al2(Si6O18)
ⓘ 'Biotite'
Formula: K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ Bismuthinite
Formula: Bi2S3
ⓘ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'
ⓘ 'Feldspar Group'
ⓘ Fluorite
Formula: CaF2
ⓘ 'K Feldspar'
ⓘ Molybdenite
Formula: MoS2
ⓘ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Native Bismuth
Formula: Bi
ⓘ Native Gold
Formula: Au
ⓘ Phenakite
Formula: Be2SiO4
ⓘ 'Plagioclase'
Formula: (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
ⓘ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Scheelite
Formula: Ca(WO4)
ⓘ Schorl
Formula: NaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
ⓘ Talc
Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2

Gallery:

Be3Al2(Si6O18)ⓘ Beryl var. Emerald
trans.png
Emerald

Cobra pit, Gravelotte Emerald Mine, Gravelotte, Murchison Range, Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa
trans.png
Emerald

Cobra pit, Gravelotte Emerald Mine, Gravelotte, Murchison Range, Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa
trans.png
Emerald

Cobra pit, Gravelotte Emerald Mine, Gravelotte, Murchison Range, Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa
trans.png
Emerald

Cobra pit, Gravelotte Emerald Mine, Gravelotte, Murchison Range, Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa
trans.png
Emerald

Cobra pit, Gravelotte Emerald Mine, Gravelotte, Murchison Range, Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa
trans.png
Emerald

Cobra pit, Gravelotte Emerald Mine, Gravelotte, Murchison Range, Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa
trans.png
Emerald

Cobra pit, Gravelotte Emerald Mine, Gravelotte, Murchison Range, Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa
trans.png
Emerald

Cobra pit, Gravelotte Emerald Mine, Gravelotte, Murchison Range, Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa
trans.png
Emerald

Cobra pit, Gravelotte Emerald Mine, Gravelotte, Murchison Range, Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa
trans.png
Emerald

Cobra pit, Gravelotte Emerald Mine, Gravelotte, Murchison Range, Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘNative Gold1.AA.05Au
ⓘNative Bismuth1.CA.05Bi
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘChalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
ⓘBismuthinite2.DB.05Bi2S3
ⓘMolybdenite2.EA.30MoS2
ⓘPyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
Group 3 - Halides
ⓘFluorite3.AB.25CaF2
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘScheelite7.GA.05Ca(WO4)
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘPhenakite9.AA.05Be2SiO4
ⓘBeryl9.CJ.05Be3Al2(Si6O18)
ⓘvar. Emerald9.CJ.05Be3Al2(Si6O18)
ⓘSchorl9.CK.05NaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
ⓘActinolite9.DE.10◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
ⓘTalc9.EC.05Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
ⓘMuscovite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘAlbite9.FA.35Na(AlSi3O8)
Unclassified
ⓘ'Biotite'-K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ'Chlorite Group'-
ⓘ'Feldspar Group'-
ⓘ'Plagioclase'-(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
ⓘ'K Feldspar'-
ⓘ'Apatite'-Ca5(PO4)3A

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Hⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Hⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ SchorlNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Hⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
BeBeryllium
Beⓘ BerylBe3Al2(Si6O18)
Beⓘ Beryl var. EmeraldBe3Al2(Si6O18)
Beⓘ PhenakiteBe2SiO4
BBoron
Bⓘ SchorlNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
OOxygen
Oⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Oⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Oⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Oⓘ BerylBe3Al2(Si6O18)
Oⓘ Beryl var. EmeraldBe3Al2(Si6O18)
Oⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ PhenakiteBe2SiO4
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ ScheeliteCa(WO4)
Oⓘ SchorlNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Oⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Oⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Oⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3A
FFluorine
Fⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Fⓘ FluoriteCaF2
NaSodium
Naⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Naⓘ SchorlNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Naⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Mgⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Mgⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
AlAluminium
Alⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Alⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Alⓘ BerylBe3Al2(Si6O18)
Alⓘ Beryl var. EmeraldBe3Al2(Si6O18)
Alⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ SchorlNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Alⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
SiSilicon
Siⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Siⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Siⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Siⓘ BerylBe3Al2(Si6O18)
Siⓘ Beryl var. EmeraldBe3Al2(Si6O18)
Siⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ PhenakiteBe2SiO4
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ SchorlNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Siⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Siⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
PPhosphorus
Pⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3A
SSulfur
Sⓘ BismuthiniteBi2S3
Sⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sⓘ MolybdeniteMoS2
Sⓘ PyriteFeS2
KPotassium
Kⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Kⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Caⓘ FluoriteCaF2
Caⓘ ScheeliteCa(WO4)
Caⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Caⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3A
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
FeIron
Feⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Feⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Feⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feⓘ PyriteFeS2
Feⓘ SchorlNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
CuCopper
Cuⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
MoMolybdenum
Moⓘ MolybdeniteMoS2
WTungsten
Wⓘ ScheeliteCa(WO4)
AuGold
Auⓘ Native GoldAu
BiBismuth
Biⓘ Native BismuthBi
Biⓘ BismuthiniteBi2S3

Localities in this Region

South Africa
  • Limpopo
    • Mopani District Municipality

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

AfricaContinent
African Plate
Somali PlateTectonic Plate
South Africa

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

ROBB L. J. and ROBB V. M. ( 1986) The nature of Archaean pegmatite deposits in the north-eastern Transvaal. In Mineral Deposits of Southern Africa (ed. C. R. ANHAEUSSER and S. MASKE), Geological Society of South Africa, Vol. I, pp. 437-439.
Grundmann, G., Morteani, G. (1989) Emerald mineralization during regional metamorphism; the Habachtal (Austria) and Leydsdorp (Transvaal, South Africa) deposits. Economic Geology, 84 (7) 1835-1849 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.84.7.1835
Yin Yin Nwe, , Morteani, Giulio (1993) Fluid evolution in the H2O-CH4-CO2-NaCl system during emerald mineralization at Gravelotte, Murchison Greenstone Belt, Northeast Transvaal, South Africa. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 57 (1) 89-103 doi:10.1016/0016-7037(93)90471-8
Cairncross, B., Dixon, R. (1995) Minerals of South Africa. Geological Society of South Africa. p.1-290.
Lum, J.E., Viljoen, K.S., Cairncross, B. (2016) Mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of emeralds from the Leydsdorp area, South Africa. South African Journal of Geology, 119 (2) 359-378 doi:10.2113/gssajg.119.2.359
Nicklas, R.W., Day, J.M.D., Alonso-Perez, R. (2022) Archean age and radiogenic source for the world’s oldest emeralds. Geochemical Perspectives Letters, 23. 23-27 doi:10.7185/geochemlet.2232
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