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Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region, Namibia

The Tsumeb mine is one of our Top 12 Mineral Localities.
Copper mining and smelting began at Tsumeb long before the European explorers "discovered" the ore body. Apparently, for hundreds of years, local Bushmen had been mining copper-bearing rocks from a secret locality known only to them and trading them to Ovambos, who came from northern Namibia to meet the Bushmen. The Bushmen supplied the material, but the Ovambos had discovered how to extract the copper metal from the ore by building crude smelters in termite hills and firing the ore until the molten copper poured forth into "ingot molds" dug into the ground with sticks. The copper was then used for ornamentation and weaponry.
The Tsumeb mine qualifies as one of the most prolific mineral localities in the world, not only for the number of species (over 230), but the sheer magnitude of world class specimen material that has emerged from its workings. Perhaps most famous are the unrivalled specimens of azurite, cerussite and dioptase. Species collectors find a haven in this locality as well as the type locality of well over 50 mineral species.
The mine is essentially now closed, but recently a number of large, fine private collections have reached the market that make this classic material not only desirable but available.

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Smithsonite
Tsumeb, Namibia
$2000
75mm x 50mm x 40mm
Smithsonite
Tsumeb mine, Otjikoto, Namibia
$9500
95mm x 80mm x 50mm
Azurite
Tsumeb, Namibia
$750
80mm x 50mm x 45mm
Leiteite
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region, Namibia
$1950
30mm
Smithsonite
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Otjikoto Region, Namibia
$1350
60mm x 40mm x 30mm
Rosasite ps. Malachite ps. Azurite
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region, Namibia
$12000
60mm x 60mm x 40mm
Cuprite with Dolomite
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region, Namibia
$1500
30mm x 20mm x 10mm
Copper with Calcite, Cerussite
Tsumeb, Namibia
$150
40mm x 35mm x 35mm
Calcite with Dioptase and Duftite
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region, Namibia
$350
20mm x 20mm x 10mm
Malachite with Azurite
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region, Namibia
$450
30mm x 20mm x 20mm
Mimetite
Tsumeb mine, Otjikoto, Namibia
$120
80mm x 50mm x 30mm
Dioptase with Malachite
Tsumeb mine, Otjikoto, Namibia
$7500
180mm x 140mm x 55mm
Wulfenite
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region, Namibia
$1200
20mm x 20mm x 10mm
Dioptase
Tsumeb mine, Otjikoto, Namibia
$635
32mm x 23mm x 10mm
Cobaltdolomite CAST & Duftite
Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine) | Tsumeb | Otjikoto Region | Namibia
$903 *
76mm x 66mm x 17mm
Adamite with Wulfenite
Tsumeb mine, Otjikoto, Namibia
$4500
80mm x 60mm x 35mm
Cerussite (twinned)
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region, Namibia
$2250
40mm x 40mm x 20mm
Azurite
Tsumeb mine, Otjikoto, Namibia
$220
35mm x 13mm x 13mm
Wulfenite
Tsumeb mine, Otjikoto, Namibia
$4500
55mm x 25mm x 25mm
Dioptase on Smithsonite
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Otjikoto Region, Namibia
$500
80mm x 52mm x 39mm
* price is an approximate conversion and may not be accurate.

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