Detailed Description

The overall form of this one is great, with the large crystals rising up in the middle over the rest. The crystals down in front are nice red colour, and the crystals up the middle have varying amounts of lighter brown. The piece shows more reds and dark brownish red than beige, but the angle of the photo emphasizes some of the tan colour and a reflection at the top of the photo obscures the darker colour. The largest crystal is 1.2 cm. Sits perfectly for display as photographed. The aesthetic form makes this piece.

About these Vanadinites and the ACF Mine Workings

These are top quality miniature specimens of vanadinite crystals from the Mibladen Mining District, the source of the world’s best vanadinite. They are from one of the main localities for the vanadinite specimens, known as the ACF Mine Workings – underground tunnels and workings, created by specimen miners in search of vanadinite. These workings are accessed from the original ACF Mine incline/shaft. If you’d like to see more about the Mibladen Mining District, including photos of some of the vanadinite workings, see Morocco: The Northern Sahara and the Atlas Mountains (Part 2). (Note, the big hole depicted in the first photograph in the other half of the article – see Part 1 –  is also a vanadinite specimen-mining operation.)