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Home > Kalahari Manganese Field – March 18 > MS0900 Bultfonteinite after Olmiite

Bultfonteinite after Olmiite - Sold

• N'Chwaning II mine
• Kalahari Manganese Field
• Northern Cape Province
• South Africa

• 7.2 by 4.7 by 2.7 cm – Small cabinet specimen (under 10 cm)

Bultfonteinite is a calcium silicate fluoride hydrate. Bultfonteinite was originally discovered elsewhere in South Africa, specifically in the Bultfontein mine at Kimberley, South Africa (Parry et al. 1932). Olmiite is a calcium manganese pyroxenoid mineral related to poldervaartite, and originally found at the N'Chwaning II mine (Bonazzi et al. 2007). These minerals are chemically related, and the habit of the pseudomorph appears more like olmiite than calcite. In some ways, these crystals mimic "fuzzy dice". On this example, they reach 1.1 cm across with 1.3 cm calcite crystals. Nice piece and an exotic pseudomorph!