Detailed Description

There’s some nice contrast on this vanadinite specimen – the crystals in the middle of the group catch the light nicely and have a strong deep orange-red colour, while the large crystal has a tan cap highlighting its one termination. (That largest crystal is 1.1 cm.) Minor chipping in a couple of spots but overall it’s a high quality piece. Good aesthetic vanadinite!

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.)