Meerschaum (sepiolite) occurs in dolomitic lacustrine limestones at the southern end of Lake Amboseli (Kenia), NW of Kilimanjaro.

The overburden consists of Mg-rich clays which contain sepiolite and which are considered to be the local source of the meerschaum.

It may be incorrect to view this locality as a single mine, rather the Meerschaum deposits comprse the "Sinya Beds of the Amboseli Basin in Tanzania and Kenya [and] consist largely of carbonate rocks and Mg-rich clays that are intensely deformed where exposed in and near former meerschaum mines. The carbonate rocks consist of limestone and dolomite in Tanzania".

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List

ⓘ Sepiolite

1 valid mineral.

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Sepiolite

Formula: Mg₄(Si₆O₁₅)(OH)₂ · 6H₂O

References:

Sampson, D. N. (1966): Sinya meerschaum mine, northern Tanzania. Transactions of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, Section B: Applied Earth Science 75, 23-34.

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘ	Sepiolite	9.EE.25	Mg₄(Si₆O₁₅)(OH)₂ · 6H₂O

List of minerals for each chemical element

H	Hydrogen
H	ⓘ Sepiolite	Mg₄(Si₆O₁₅)(OH)₂ · 6H₂O
O	Oxygen
O	ⓘ Sepiolite	Mg₄(Si₆O₁₅)(OH)₂ · 6H₂O
Mg	Magnesium
Mg	ⓘ Sepiolite	Mg₄(Si₆O₁₅)(OH)₂ · 6H₂O
Si	Silicon
Si	ⓘ Sepiolite	Mg₄(Si₆O₁₅)(OH)₂ · 6H₂O

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

AfricaContinent

East African Rift System (EARS)Zone (Tectonic)

African Plate

Tanzanian Eastern GranulitesOrogenic Belt

Kenya

⭔Rift Valley ProvinceProvince

Somali PlateTectonic Plate

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References

www.getamap.net (n.d.) http://www.getamap.net/maps/tanzania/arusha/_sinyamine/

Sampson, D. N. (1966): Sinya meerschaum mine, northern Tanzania. Transactions of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, Section B: Applied Earth Science 75, 23-34.

[1] Hay, R.L., Hughes, R.E., Kyser, T.K., Glass, H.D., Lisu, J. (1995) Magnesium-rich clays of the Meerschaum Mines in the Amboseli Basin, Tanzania and Kenya. Clays and Clay Minerals, 43:4, 455-466.

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Sinya mine, Longido District, Arusha Region, TanzaniaiRegional Level TypesSinya mineMine Longido DistrictDistrict Arusha RegionRegion TanzaniaCountry function showexplain() { $("#locexplain").toggle(); if (typeof movemap === "function") movemap(); }