Vanadinite from Taouz Caïdat, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco

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Red tabular crystals of vanadinite lustrous and slightly translucent to 0.5 cm in size on a black botryoidal coronadite matrix. In good condition.The Taouz Caidat, located in the desert landscape of the Draa-Tafilalet region in southeastern Morocco, features a geological setting defined by Paleozoic sedimentary formations and ancient volcanic basements. Rich vein systems hosting lead-barium mineralization traverse these rocks, forming the basis for the area's mineralogical significance. Historically, French colonial prospectors and local miners worked the mineral deposits at Taouz throughout the twentieth century, primarily extracting lead ore. The slow oxidation of these underground lead veins created a unique geochemical environment that produced secondary minerals, most notably lustrous, hexagonal red vanadinite crystals growing on dark, botryoidal goethite. Following the decline of industrial operations, the local community transitioned to artisanal mineral extraction, turning Taouz into an important geographical source for collectors of regional lead and manganese minerals.