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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
$750
26mm x 9mm x 8mm
Pyrite Ex Peter Döring Collection
Tsumeb Mine | Tsumeb | Otjikoto Region | Namibia
$843 *
65mm x 51mm x 18mm
Wulfenite
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region, Namibia
$2500
20mm x 20mm
Smithsonite
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region, Namibia
$950
20mm x 10mm x 10mm
Smithsonite on Calcite
Tsumeb, Otjikoto Region (Oshikoto), Namibia
$500
69mm x 56mm x 37mm
Anglesite
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region, Namibia
$1250
30mm x 20mm x 10mm
Malachite after Azurite
Tsumeb mine, Otjikoto, Namibia
$140
45mm x 40mm x 15mm
Malachite ps. Azurite, on Bayldonite ps. Mimetite
1st oxide zone circa 1900, Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Namibia
$2750
60mm x 40mm x 30mm
Smithsonite
Tsumeb mine, Otjikoto, Namibia
$340
50mm x 40mm x 40mm
Smithsonite
Tsumeb mine, Otjikoto, Namibia
$115
20mm x 16mm x 4mm
Cerusite
Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region, Namibia
$1430 *
35mm x 35mm x 18mm
From: A Bijoux
Smithsonite
Tsumeb mine, Otjikoto, Namibia
$325
50mm x 20mm x 20mm
Cerussite
Tsumeb, Namibia
$160
22mm x 18mm x 18mm
Calcite with Hematite
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Namibia
$2750
60mm x 40mm x 40mm
Smithsonite
Tsumeb, Namibia
$2000
75mm x 50mm x 40mm
Zincolivenite
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region, Namibia
$250
20mm
Azurite
Tsumeb, Namibia
$750
80mm x 50mm x 45mm
Wulfenite on Mottramite
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb District, Oshikoto Region, Namibia
$450
92mm x 70mm x 55mm
Cerussite, Duftite on Calcite
Tsumeb, Namibia
$300
70mm x 32mm x 30mm
Smithsonite
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region, Namibia
$2250
40mm x 10mm x 10mm
* price is an approximate conversion and may not be accurate.

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