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Home > African Minerals – April 25 > MS1204 Sturmanite

Sturmanite - Sold

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

• 4.3 by 1.1 by 0.8 cm – Miniature specimen (fits into a 5 cm cube)

Sturmanite is a calcium manganese borate sulfate originally found in the Kalahari Manganese Field (Peacor et al. 1983). While the original description of sturmanite specifies the Black Rock mine as the type locality, later evidence suggests the type material actually came from the N'Chwaning II mine.

This specimen is a single crystal, 4.3 cm long with a white core and a yellow-brown exterior. This specimen has been oiled, which has allowed the crystal to maintain its luster since 1985. Imported into the United States by Cal Graeber. These are quite rare on the collector market, with colorless to yellow ettringite crystals dominating the marketplace.