Vanadinite from ACF mine, Mibladen Mining District, Midelt Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco

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Beautiful lustrous red slightly translucent tabular crystals of vanadinite to 1.5 cm in size across the top of a crystallized white bladed barite matrix. This is in good condition. The quality of the crystals in terms of luster, color and slight translucency as very good.Mibladen, located in the high plateau region of the Middle Atlas Mountains in Morocco, is a world-famous historic mining district with operations that expanded significantly during the French protectorate in the early to mid-20th century for lead and barite. Geologically, the deposit is situated within secondary sedimentary carbonate formations, where mineralizing hydrothermal fluids interacted with limestone and dolostone host rocks to form rich oxidized zones. Mineralogically, the district is globally renowned for producing exceptional, highly aesthetic specimens of orange-red vanadinite crystals, often associated with pristine barite, cerussite, and wulfenite, making it one of the most celebrated mineral localities in Africa.