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Rosh Pinah Mine, Rosh Pinah, Oranjemund Constituency, ǁKaras Region, Namibiai
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Rosh Pinah Mine | Mine (Active) |
| Rosh Pinah | Town |
| Oranjemund Constituency | Constituency |
| ǁKaras Region | Region |
| Namibia | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
27° 57' 20'' South , 16° 45' 56'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Mine (Active) - last checked 2022
Deposit first discovered:
1963 (approx.)
Köppen climate type:
The name Rosh Pinah comes from Hebrew and means 'cornerstone'. It is situated 165 km south of Aus, 70 km NE of Oranjemund and 20 km north of the Orange River, the main deposit being in the Rosh Pinah Mountain.
From Cairncross and Fraser (2012):
The deposit was discovered in 1963 by Michael McMillan during a regional mapping program for Moly Copper Mining and Exploration (McMillan, 1968; Alchin and Moore, 2005).
In 1969 mining commenced as a joint venture with ISCOR South Africa and IMCOR Zinc with proven reserves of 2.9 million tons of ore at 5.8 % zinc and 1.2 % lead with minor amounts of copper (von Bezing et al., 2007). Mineralized pockets are infrequently found in the deposit; however, over the years the mine has produced a number of aesthetic collectible specimens.
The lead-zinc mineralization at the Rosh Pinah mine is both stratabound and stratiform (Page and Watson, 1976) and hosted in arkose and quartzite of the Rosh Pinah Formation (van Vuuren, 1986). This comprises a basal volcanic unit overlain by a siliciclastic facies. The mineralized ore zone is intimately associated with mudstone, microquartzite and carbonate. Massive sulphide ore typically overlies the mudstone and is covered by a mixture of arkose and mudstone. The Rosh Pinah Formation forms part of the lower sequence of the Gariep Complex (Rozendal et al., 2004).
The sulphide mineralization consists of mainly sphalerite, pyrite, galena, and chalcopyrite. Other less common minerals present are baryte, tennantite-tetrahedrite, stromeyerite, acanthite, arsenopyrite, argentite and free gold (Alchin and Moore, 2005). Although mineralised pockets are only sporadically found, these have yielded many aesthetic specimens including the finest baryte and marcasite specimens from Namibia and southern Africa in general.
Operated as an underground mine.
From Cairncross and Fraser (2012):
The deposit was discovered in 1963 by Michael McMillan during a regional mapping program for Moly Copper Mining and Exploration (McMillan, 1968; Alchin and Moore, 2005).
In 1969 mining commenced as a joint venture with ISCOR South Africa and IMCOR Zinc with proven reserves of 2.9 million tons of ore at 5.8 % zinc and 1.2 % lead with minor amounts of copper (von Bezing et al., 2007). Mineralized pockets are infrequently found in the deposit; however, over the years the mine has produced a number of aesthetic collectible specimens.
The lead-zinc mineralization at the Rosh Pinah mine is both stratabound and stratiform (Page and Watson, 1976) and hosted in arkose and quartzite of the Rosh Pinah Formation (van Vuuren, 1986). This comprises a basal volcanic unit overlain by a siliciclastic facies. The mineralized ore zone is intimately associated with mudstone, microquartzite and carbonate. Massive sulphide ore typically overlies the mudstone and is covered by a mixture of arkose and mudstone. The Rosh Pinah Formation forms part of the lower sequence of the Gariep Complex (Rozendal et al., 2004).
The sulphide mineralization consists of mainly sphalerite, pyrite, galena, and chalcopyrite. Other less common minerals present are baryte, tennantite-tetrahedrite, stromeyerite, acanthite, arsenopyrite, argentite and free gold (Alchin and Moore, 2005). Although mineralised pockets are only sporadically found, these have yielded many aesthetic specimens including the finest baryte and marcasite specimens from Namibia and southern Africa in general.
Operated as an underground mine.
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
37 valid minerals.
Rock Types Recorded
Select Rock List Type
Alphabetical List Tree DiagramDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Acanthite Formula: Ag2S |
| ⓘ Alabandite Formula: MnS |
| ⓘ Albite Formula: Na(AlSi3O8) |
| ⓘ Alstonite Formula: BaCa(CO3)2 |
| ⓘ Ankerite Formula: Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| ⓘ 'Apatite' Formula: Ca5(PO4)3A |
| ⓘ Arsenopyrite Formula: FeAsS |
| ⓘ Azurite Formula: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| ✪ Baryte Formula: BaSO4 Habit: Tabular crystals - amber-orange to 4cm, yellow to 1cm Colour: Amber-orange, yellow Description: Aesthetic crystals were collected early in 1989 although the mine was exploited since 1969. Baryte is a rich golden orange colour, large crystals over 4cm long are arranged in radiating sprays up to 30cm diameter. The finest specimens have baryte on matrix. Some floater specimens are composed of complete 360° discs similar to aztec suns. References: |
| ⓘ Barytocalcite Formula: BaCa(CO3)2 |
| ⓘ Benstonite Formula: Ba6Ca6Mg(CO3)13 Habit: rhombohedral Colour: white Description: Associated with baryte, barytocalcite, norsethite & witherite, also on marcasite. |
| ⓘ Bornite Formula: Cu5FeS4 |
| ⓘ Calcite Formula: CaCO3 |
| ⓘ Celsian Formula: Ba(Al2Si2O8) |
| ⓘ Cerussite Formula: PbCO3 |
| ⓘ Chalcopyrite Formula: CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ Chamosite Formula: Fe2+5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 Description: Associated with quartz confirmed by X-Ray diffraction, as seen in an Alan Fraser specimen/collection on FB. |
| ⓘ 'Chlorite Group' |
| ⓘ Chrysocolla Formula: Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| ⓘ Coronadite Formula: Pb(Mn4+6Mn3+2)O16 Description: Previously identified as romanechite, but Raman, powder X-ray diffraction and EDS are coronadite. |
| ⓘ Cubanite Formula: CuFe2S3 |
| ⓘ Dolomite Formula: CaMg(CO3)2 |
| ⓘ Galena Formula: PbS |
| ⓘ Goethite Formula: Fe3+O(OH) |
| ⓘ Gypsum Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| ⓘ Gypsum var. Selenite Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| ⓘ Hemimorphite Formula: Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O |
| ⓘ Jarosite Formula: KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| ⓘ Kutnohorite Formula: CaMn2+(CO3)2 |
| ⓘ 'Limonite' References: |
| ⓘ Marcasite Formula: FeS2 |
| ⓘ Native Copper Formula: Cu |
| ⓘ Native Gold Formula: Au |
| ⓘ Norsethite Formula: BaMg(CO3)2 |
| ⓘ Pyrite Formula: FeS2 |
| ⓘ Pyrrhotite Formula: Fe1-xS |
| ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 |
| ⓘ Smithsonite Formula: ZnCO3 |
| ⓘ Sphalerite Formula: ZnS |
| ⓘ Stromeyerite Formula: AgCuS |
| ⓘ 'Tetrahedrite Group' Formula: M2(A6)M1(B4 C2)X3(D4)S1(Y12)S2(Z) |
| ⓘ Witherite Formula: BaCO3 |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Native Copper | 1.AA.05 | Cu |
| ⓘ | Native Gold | 1.AA.05 | Au |
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
| ⓘ | Bornite | 2.BA.15 | Cu5FeS4 |
| ⓘ | Acanthite | 2.BA.35 | Ag2S |
| ⓘ | Stromeyerite | 2.BA.40 | AgCuS |
| ⓘ | Sphalerite | 2.CB.05a | ZnS |
| ⓘ | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ | Cubanite | 2.CB.55a | CuFe2S3 |
| ⓘ | Pyrrhotite | 2.CC.10 | Fe1-xS |
| ⓘ | Alabandite | 2.CD.10 | MnS |
| ⓘ | Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS |
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| ⓘ | Marcasite | 2.EB.10a | FeS2 |
| ⓘ | Arsenopyrite | 2.EB.20 | FeAsS |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | Coronadite | 4.DK.05a | Pb(Mn4+6Mn3+2)O16 |
| ⓘ | Goethite | 4.FD.10 | Fe3+O(OH) |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| ⓘ | Smithsonite | 5.AB.05 | ZnCO3 |
| ⓘ | Ankerite | 5.AB.10 | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| ⓘ | Dolomite | 5.AB.10 | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| ⓘ | Kutnohorite | 5.AB.10 | CaMn2+(CO3)2 |
| ⓘ | Cerussite | 5.AB.15 | PbCO3 |
| ⓘ | Witherite | 5.AB.15 | BaCO3 |
| ⓘ | Norsethite | 5.AB.30 | BaMg(CO3)2 |
| ⓘ | Alstonite | 5.AB.35 | BaCa(CO3)2 |
| ⓘ | Barytocalcite | 5.AB.45 | BaCa(CO3)2 |
| ⓘ | Benstonite | 5.AB.55 | Ba6Ca6Mg(CO3)13 |
| ⓘ | Azurite | 5.BA.05 | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| ⓘ | Baryte | 7.AD.35 | BaSO4 |
| ⓘ | Jarosite | 7.BC.10 | KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| ⓘ | Gypsum | 7.CD.40 | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| ⓘ | var. Selenite | 7.CD.40 | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Hemimorphite | 9.BD.10 | Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O |
| ⓘ | Chamosite | 9.EC.55 | Fe2+5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| ⓘ | Chrysocolla | 9.ED.20 | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| ⓘ | Celsian | 9.FA.30 | Ba(Al2Si2O8) |
| ⓘ | Albite | 9.FA.35 | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Chlorite Group' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Limonite' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Apatite' | - | Ca5(PO4)3A |
| ⓘ | 'Tetrahedrite Group' | - | M2(A6)M1(B4 C2)X3(D4)S1(Y12)S2(Z) |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Chamosite | Fe52+Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| H | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| H | ⓘ Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| H | ⓘ Hemimorphite | Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O |
| H | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| H | ⓘ Gypsum var. Selenite | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Alstonite | BaCa(CO3)2 |
| C | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| C | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| C | ⓘ Barytocalcite | BaCa(CO3)2 |
| C | ⓘ Benstonite | Ba6Ca6Mg(CO3)13 |
| C | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| C | ⓘ Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| C | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| C | ⓘ Kutnohorite | CaMn2+(CO3)2 |
| C | ⓘ Norsethite | BaMg(CO3)2 |
| C | ⓘ Smithsonite | ZnCO3 |
| C | ⓘ Witherite | BaCO3 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| O | ⓘ Alstonite | BaCa(CO3)2 |
| O | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| O | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Barytocalcite | BaCa(CO3)2 |
| O | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
| O | ⓘ Benstonite | Ba6Ca6Mg(CO3)13 |
| O | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Celsian | Ba(Al2Si2O8) |
| O | ⓘ Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Chamosite | Fe52+Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| O | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| O | ⓘ Coronadite | Pb(Mn64+Mn23+)O16 |
| O | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| O | ⓘ Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| O | ⓘ Hemimorphite | Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O |
| O | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| O | ⓘ Kutnohorite | CaMn2+(CO3)2 |
| O | ⓘ Norsethite | BaMg(CO3)2 |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Smithsonite | ZnCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Witherite | BaCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Gypsum var. Selenite | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| O | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3A |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Benstonite | Ba6Ca6Mg(CO3)13 |
| Mg | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Norsethite | BaMg(CO3)2 |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Al | ⓘ Celsian | Ba(Al2Si2O8) |
| Al | ⓘ Chamosite | Fe52+Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Al | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Si | ⓘ Celsian | Ba(Al2Si2O8) |
| Si | ⓘ Chamosite | Fe52+Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Si | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| Si | ⓘ Hemimorphite | Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| P | Phosphorus | |
| P | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3A |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Acanthite | Ag2S |
| S | ⓘ Alabandite | MnS |
| S | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| S | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
| S | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Cubanite | CuFe2S3 |
| S | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
| S | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| S | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| S | ⓘ Marcasite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| S | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| S | ⓘ Stromeyerite | AgCuS |
| S | ⓘ Gypsum var. Selenite | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| S | ⓘ Tetrahedrite Group | M2(A6)M1(B4 C2)X3(D4)S1(Y12)S2(Z) |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Alstonite | BaCa(CO3)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Barytocalcite | BaCa(CO3)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Benstonite | Ba6Ca6Mg(CO3)13 |
| Ca | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Kutnohorite | CaMn2+(CO3)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Gypsum var. Selenite | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3A |
| Mn | Manganese | |
| Mn | ⓘ Alabandite | MnS |
| Mn | ⓘ Coronadite | Pb(Mn64+Mn23+)O16 |
| Mn | ⓘ Kutnohorite | CaMn2+(CO3)2 |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| Fe | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chamosite | Fe52+Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Fe | ⓘ Cubanite | CuFe2S3 |
| Fe | ⓘ Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| Fe | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| Fe | ⓘ Marcasite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| Cu | ⓘ Cubanite | CuFe2S3 |
| Cu | ⓘ Native Copper | Cu |
| Cu | ⓘ Stromeyerite | AgCuS |
| Zn | Zinc | |
| Zn | ⓘ Hemimorphite | Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O |
| Zn | ⓘ Smithsonite | ZnCO3 |
| Zn | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| As | Arsenic | |
| As | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| Ag | Silver | |
| Ag | ⓘ Acanthite | Ag2S |
| Ag | ⓘ Stromeyerite | AgCuS |
| Ba | Barium | |
| Ba | ⓘ Alstonite | BaCa(CO3)2 |
| Ba | ⓘ Barytocalcite | BaCa(CO3)2 |
| Ba | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
| Ba | ⓘ Benstonite | Ba6Ca6Mg(CO3)13 |
| Ba | ⓘ Celsian | Ba(Al2Si2O8) |
| Ba | ⓘ Norsethite | BaMg(CO3)2 |
| Ba | ⓘ Witherite | BaCO3 |
| Au | Gold | |
| Au | ⓘ Native Gold | Au |
| Pb | Lead | |
| Pb | ⓘ Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| Pb | ⓘ Coronadite | Pb(Mn64+Mn23+)O16 |
| Pb | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
Other Databases
| Wikipedia: | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosh_Pinah |
|---|---|
| Wikidata ID: | Q851674 |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
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References
Steyn, J. G. D., Watson, M. D. (1967) Notes on a new occurrence of norsethite BaMg(CO3)2. American Mineralogist, 52 (11-12) 1770-1775
Page, D. C., Watson, M. D. (1976) The Pb-Zn deposit of Rosh Pinah Mine, South West Africa. Economic Geology, 71 (1) 306-327 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.71.1.306
Frimmel, H. E. (2000) Fluid evolution in and around the Rosh Pinah massive sulphide deposit in the external Pan-African Gariep Belt, Namibia. South African Journal of Geology, 103 (3) 191-206 doi:10.2113/1030191
Alchin, D.J. (2005) A review of the Pan-African, Neoproterozoic Rosh Pinah Zn-Pb deposit, southwestern Namibia. South African Journal of Geology, 108 (1) 71-86 doi:10.2113/108.1.71
Alchin, D.J. (2005) Stratigraphic setting of the metalliferous Rosh Pinah Formation and the Spitzkop and Koivib Suites in the Pan-African Gariep Belt, southwestern Namibia. South African Journal of Geology, 108 (1) 19-34 doi:10.2113/108.1.19
McMillan, M. D. (2005) Exploration history of Rosh Pinah and Aggeneys: The discovery of Rosh Pinah. South African Journal of Geology, 108 (1) 3-4 doi:10.2113/108.1.3
Rosh Pinah Mine, Rosh Pinah, Oranjemund Constituency, ǁKaras Region, Namibia