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Ouichane Mines, Jebel Ouichane, Guelaia Cercle, Nador Province, Oriental Region, Moroccoi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Ouichane Mines | Mining Area (Inactive) |
| Jebel Ouichane | Mine Zone (Inactive) |
| Guelaia Cercle | Cercle |
| Nador Province | Province |
| Oriental Region | Region |
| Morocco | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
35° 7' 19'' North , 3° 1' 27'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Mining Area (Inactive) - last checked 2020
Köppen climate type:
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
Uixan; Ouixane
Other Languages:
Spanish:
Minas de Uixan, Provincia de Nador, Oriental, Marruecos
Mining area known as the Ouichane or Uixan mines (comprising Axara-Imnassen Mine and Bokoya-Setolazar Mine). Exploited since 1908 by "La Compañia Española de Minas del Rif (CEMR)" until 1968 when they became nationalized and operated as "Societé d'Explotation des Mines du Rif (SEFERIF)" until 1980.
The area is popular for top quality baryte specimens of light‑blue color which form blade‑like tabular crystals with superb transparency and lustre. Dumańska‑Słowik et al., (2021) provide a detailed study on the origin and mineralogy of these specimens.
According to Dumańska‑Słowik et al., (2021), the host rock of the baryte specimens is mainly composed of Fe oxides/hydroxides such as hematite, goethite, magnetite, and subordinate carbonates, i.e. calcite and siderite with hematite being the primary phase. Mn-oxides, chalcopyrite, and pyrite are accessory phases of the rock. The baryte specimens occur in pockets and open fractures in Jurassic-Cretaceous metasediments.
Francois Lietard collected blue baryte from this mining area in the mid-1970s.
According to Dumańska‑Słowik et al., (2021) and Praszkier (2015), baryte has started being extracted again in 2012 and flooded the mineral and gem market in the spring of 2012 at the Sainte Marie Aux Mines show and quickly became very popular on the international mineral fairs and exhibitions. The barytes from here are amongst the most prominent specimens in the world based on the size of particular crystals (up to 10 cm), their light blue coloration contrasting with the surrounding rocks, attractive blade-like habits, as well as superb transparency and lustre. From 2012 till 2015 the quarry’s walls were exploited intensively in search of baryte.
Baryte from here is often erroneously labeled "Sidi Lahcen".
The well known Nador bladed hematite crystals are often misattributed to this locality but in reality come from a different mine close to the community of Nador, on the road to Melilla.
The area is popular for top quality baryte specimens of light‑blue color which form blade‑like tabular crystals with superb transparency and lustre. Dumańska‑Słowik et al., (2021) provide a detailed study on the origin and mineralogy of these specimens.
According to Dumańska‑Słowik et al., (2021), the host rock of the baryte specimens is mainly composed of Fe oxides/hydroxides such as hematite, goethite, magnetite, and subordinate carbonates, i.e. calcite and siderite with hematite being the primary phase. Mn-oxides, chalcopyrite, and pyrite are accessory phases of the rock. The baryte specimens occur in pockets and open fractures in Jurassic-Cretaceous metasediments.
Francois Lietard collected blue baryte from this mining area in the mid-1970s.
According to Dumańska‑Słowik et al., (2021) and Praszkier (2015), baryte has started being extracted again in 2012 and flooded the mineral and gem market in the spring of 2012 at the Sainte Marie Aux Mines show and quickly became very popular on the international mineral fairs and exhibitions. The barytes from here are amongst the most prominent specimens in the world based on the size of particular crystals (up to 10 cm), their light blue coloration contrasting with the surrounding rocks, attractive blade-like habits, as well as superb transparency and lustre. From 2012 till 2015 the quarry’s walls were exploited intensively in search of baryte.
Baryte from here is often erroneously labeled "Sidi Lahcen".
The well known Nador bladed hematite crystals are often misattributed to this locality but in reality come from a different mine close to the community of Nador, on the road to Melilla.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsMineral List
Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities17 valid minerals.
Rock Types Recorded
Rock list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities
Select Rock List Type
Alphabetical List Tree DiagramDetailed Mineral List:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Bornite | 2.BA.15 | Cu5FeS4 |
| ⓘ | Sphalerite | 2.CB.05a | ZnS |
| ⓘ | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ | Pyrrhotite | 2.CC.10 | Fe1-xS |
| ⓘ | Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS |
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| ⓘ | Marcasite | 2.EB.10a | FeS2 |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Magnetite | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| ⓘ | Hematite | 4.CB.05 | Fe2O3 |
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | Goethite | 4.FD.10 | Fe3+O(OH) |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| ⓘ | Siderite | 5.AB.05 | FeCO3 |
| ⓘ | Ankerite | 5.AB.10 | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| ⓘ | Baryte | 7.AD.35 | BaSO4 |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Epidote | 9.BG.05a | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| ⓘ | Phlogopite | 9.EC.20 | KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Chlorite Group' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Limonite' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Psilomelane' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Clinopyroxene Subgroup' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Hornblende Root Name Group' | - | ◻Ca2(C2+4C3+)(AlSi7O22)W2 |
| ⓘ | 'Scapolite Group' | - | |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| H | ⓘ Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Phlogopite | KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| C | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| C | ⓘ Siderite | FeCO3 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| O | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
| O | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| O | ⓘ Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| O | ⓘ Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| O | ⓘ Phlogopite | KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Siderite | FeCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(C42+C3+)(AlSi7O22)W2 |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Phlogopite | KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Al | ⓘ Phlogopite | KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(C42+C3+)(AlSi7O22)W2 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Si | ⓘ Phlogopite | KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(C42+C3+)(AlSi7O22)W2 |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
| S | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
| S | ⓘ Marcasite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| S | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Phlogopite | KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Ca | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(C42+C3+)(AlSi7O22)W2 |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Fe | ⓘ Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| Fe | ⓘ Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| Fe | ⓘ Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Marcasite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| Fe | ⓘ Siderite | FeCO3 |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Zn | Zinc | |
| Zn | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| Ba | Barium | |
| Ba | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
| Pb | Lead | |
| Pb | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
Localities in this Region
- Oriental Region
- Nador Province
- Guelaia Cercle
- Jebel Ouichane
- Ouichane Mines
- Jebel Ouichane
- Guelaia Cercle
- Nador Province
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
AfricaContinent
African PlateTectonic Plate
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
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References
RHAZI, Mohammed EL, HAYASHI, Ken-ichiro (2002) Mineralogy, Geochemistry, and Age Constraints on the Beni Bou Ifrour Skarn Type Magnetite Deposit, Northeastern Morocco. Resource Geology, 52 (1) 25-39 doi:10.1111/j.1751-3928.2002.tb00114.x
Bouabdellah, Mohammed, Jabrane, Raouf, Margoum, Daoud, Sadequi, Mohammed (2016) Skarn to Porphyry-Epithermal Transition in the Ouixane Fe District, Northeast Morocco: Interplay of Meteoric Water and Magmatic-Hydrothermal Fluids. In Mineral Deposits of North Africa. Springer International Publishing. p.201-225. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-31733-5_7
Dumańska-Słowik, Magdalena, Naglik, Beata, Toboła, Tomasz, Powolny, Tomasz, Huber, Miłosz, Milovska, Stanislava, Dobosz, Natalia, Guzik, Kamil, Wesełucha-Birczyńska, Aleksandra (2021) Origin and occurrence of gem-quality, skarn-hosted barite from Jebel Ouichane near Nador in Morocco. Scientific Reports, 11 (1). 10307 doi:10.1038/s41598-021-89692-5
Axara-Imnassen Mine, Ouichane Mines, Jebel Ouichane, Guelaia Cercle, Nador Province, Oriental Region, Morocco