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Antsongombato gem mine, Antsentsindrano, Anosiarivo Manapa, Betafo District, Vakinankaratra, Madagascari
Regional Level Types
Antsongombato gem mineMine
AntsentsindranoFokotany
Anosiarivo ManapaCommune
Betafo DistrictDistrict
VakinankaratraRegion
MadagascarCountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
20° South , 46° East (est.)
Estimate based on other nearby localities or region boundaries.
Margin of Error:
~20km
GRN:
S14E31
Type:
Mine
Köppen climate type:
Cwb : Subtropical highland climate or temperate oceanic climate with dry winters
Mindat Locality ID:
2262
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:2262:3
GUID (UUID V4):
1161c219-a6ce-43f2-bbca-a6c4e5152627
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
Andrembesoa
Other Languages:
Malagasy:
Fihadiam-baton' Antsongombato, Antsentsindrano, Kaominin'i Anosiarivo Manapa, Distrikan'i Betafo, Vakinankaratra, Madagasikara


Antsongombato gem mine refers to a small area where several LCT pegmatite dykes (of Danburite subtype) have been worked for gems, mostly red tourmaline and yellow londonite-rhodizite. Famous for its large (up to 7 cm) yellow crystals of londonite-rhodizite and for being the type locality of schiavinatoite. The locality is situated on the north side of Manentoakoho, near Andohasahakambana, 4 km ESE of the small village Antsentsindrano which is situated 25 km southwest of Mahaiza (a relatively easily accessible marketplace) and south of the town of Betafo in the central highland of Madagascar.

French colonists started mining here for red tourmaline at the beginning of the 20th century. It was abandoned in the 1930s. Later, in 1964-1965, a French colonist mined here, mostly for rhodizite specimens. In 1998, after thorough investigations in the area, the Malagasy company "Pyramide" started specimen mining here, especially for rhodizite-londonite specimens. Many good quality specimens were then recovered. The largest and best specimens of rhodizite-londonite came from one dike which measured 400 m long and 10-60 cm thick (Laurs et al 2002). In January 2001 the Pyramide company ceased their activities in the area. The area is still being worked at a much smaller scale for mineral specimens.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.


Mineral List


23 valid minerals. 1 (TL) - type locality of valid minerals.

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Albite
Formula: Na(AlSi3O8)
Colour: white
ⓘ Béhierite
Formula: (Ta5+,Nb5+)(BO4)
ⓘ Beryl
Formula: Be3Al2(Si6O18)
Description: Cs-rich
ⓘ Bismuth
Formula: Bi
ⓘ Bismutite
Formula: (BiO)2CO3
ⓘ Bityite
Formula: CaLiAl2(AlBeSi2O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Chambersite
Formula: Mn2+3(B7O13)Cl
Colour: Colorless
Description: Tiny inclusions in rhodizite-londonite.
ⓘ Columbite-(Mn)
Formula: Mn2+Nb2O6
ⓘ 'Columbite-(Mn)-Tantalite-(Mn) Series'
Description: See Pavel M. Kartashov comments on columbite-(Mn) in the caption of photo http://www.mindat.org/photo-114523.html.
ⓘ Cryptomelane
Formula: K(Mn4+7Mn3+)O16
ⓘ Danburite
Formula: CaB2Si2O8
ⓘ 'Elbaite-Liddicoatite Series' ?
Description: new nomenclature
ⓘ Fluorapatite
Formula: Ca5(PO4)3F
ⓘ Fluorapatite var. Manganese-bearing Fluorapatite
Formula: (Ca,Mn2+)5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH) or Ca5([P,Mn5+]O4)3(F,Cl,OH)
Colour: blue; Prusse blue
Description: A. Lacroix (1912) suggest that the blue tourmaline mentioned by Duparc et al(1910) is a misnomer for "manganapatite" which occured abundantly at the locality.
ⓘ Hübnerite
Formula: MnWO4
ⓘ 'K Feldspar'
Colour: grey
ⓘ 'Lepidolite'
✪ Londonite
Formula: (Cs,K,Rb)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28
Habit: Up to 7 cm large crystals formed by dodecahedra {110} modified by deltoid dodecahedral{221}, tristetrahedral{211} and tetrahedral faces {111}
Colour: white to sulfur yellow
✪ 'Londonite-Rhodizite Series'
Habit: Forms: Dodecahedral {110} faces modified by deltoid dodecahedral {221}, tristetrahedral {211}, and tetrahedral {111} faces, rarely cubic {100} faces.
Colour: Pale yellowish greenish
Description: Specimens of rhodizite/londonite, when not individually determined chemically from this locality should be designed londonite-rhodizite series. Crystal up to 10 cm across found frozen in pegmatite matrix, in the more chemical evolved portions of the dikes charcateized by green and red tourmaline
ⓘ Microcline
Formula: K(AlSi3O8)
ⓘ 'Microlite Group'
Formula: A2-mTa2X6-wZ-n
Description: U-rich variety
ⓘ 'Monazite'
Formula: REE(PO4)
ⓘ Montmorillonite
Formula: (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Description: Maybe a pseudomorph ? after another mineral.
ⓘ Pollucite
Formula: (Cs,Na)2(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2O
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Quartz var. Smoky Quartz
Formula: SiO2
Description: massive
ⓘ Rhodizite
Formula: (K,Cs)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28
ⓘ Schiavinatoite (TL)
Formula: (Nb,Ta)(BO4)
Type Locality:
Habit: as cryptocrystalline portions in behierite
ⓘ Spodumene
Formula: LiAlSi2O6
Colour: pink, colorless, pink
ⓘ Tantalite-(Mn)
Formula: Mn2+Ta2O6
ⓘ 'Tourmaline'
Formula: AD3G6 (T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
ⓘ 'Tourmaline var. Rubellite'
Formula: A(D3)G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
ⓘ Xenotime-(Y)
Formula: Y(PO4)
ⓘ 'Zinnwaldite'
ⓘ Zircon
Formula: Zr(SiO4)
Description: Hf-rich

Gallery:

(Ta5+,Nb5+)(BO4)ⓘ Béhierite
(Cs,K,Rb)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28ⓘ Londonite
ⓘ 'Londonite-Rhodizite Series'
(K,Cs)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28ⓘ Rhodizite
(Nb,Ta)(BO4)ⓘ Schiavinatoite (TL)
AD3G6 (T6O18)(BO3)3X3Zⓘ 'Tourmaline'

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘBismuth1.CA.05Bi
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘ'Microlite Group'4.00.A2-mTa2X6-wZ-n
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘvar. Smoky Quartz4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘHübnerite4.DB.30MnWO4
ⓘColumbite-(Mn)4.DB.35Mn2+Nb2O6
ⓘTantalite-(Mn)4.DB.35Mn2+Ta2O6
ⓘCryptomelane4.DK.05aK(Mn4+7Mn3+)O16
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘBismutite5.BE.25(BiO)2CO3
Group 6 - Borates
ⓘSchiavinatoite (TL)6.AC.15(Nb,Ta)(BO4)
ⓘBéhierite6.AC.15(Ta5+,Nb5+)(BO4)
ⓘChambersite6.GA.05Mn2+3(B7O13)Cl
ⓘRhodizite6.GC.05(K,Cs)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28
ⓘLondonite6.GC.05(Cs,K,Rb)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
ⓘXenotime-(Y)8.AD.35Y(PO4)
ⓘFluorapatite8.BN.05Ca5(PO4)3F
ⓘvar. Manganese-bearing Fluorapatite8.BN.05(Ca,Mn2+)5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH) or Ca5([P,Mn5+]O4)3(F,Cl,OH)
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘZircon9.AD.30Zr(SiO4)
ⓘBeryl9.CJ.05Be3Al2(Si6O18)
ⓘSpodumene9.DA.30LiAlSi2O6
ⓘBityite9.EC.35CaLiAl2(AlBeSi2O10)(OH)2
ⓘMontmorillonite9.EC.40(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
ⓘMicrocline9.FA.30K(AlSi3O8)
ⓘAlbite9.FA.35Na(AlSi3O8)
ⓘDanburite9.FA.65CaB2Si2O8
ⓘPollucite9.GB.05(Cs,Na)2(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2O
Unclassified
ⓘ'Londonite-Rhodizite Series'-
ⓘ'Elbaite-Liddicoatite Series' ?-
ⓘ'K Feldspar'-
ⓘ'Monazite'-REE(PO4)
ⓘ'Zinnwaldite'-
ⓘ'Tourmaline'-AD3G6 (T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
ⓘ'var. Rubellite'-A(D3)G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
ⓘ'Lepidolite'-
ⓘ'Columbite-(Mn)-Tantalite-(Mn) Series'-

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ BityiteCaLiAl2(AlBeSi2O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ Fluorapatite var. Manganese-bearing Fluorapatite(Ca,Mn2+)5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH) or Ca5([P,Mn5+]O4)3(F,Cl,OH)
Hⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Hⓘ Pollucite(Cs,Na)2(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2O
LiLithium
Liⓘ BityiteCaLiAl2(AlBeSi2O10)(OH)2
Liⓘ SpodumeneLiAlSi2O6
BeBeryllium
Beⓘ BityiteCaLiAl2(AlBeSi2O10)(OH)2
Beⓘ BerylBe3Al2(Si6O18)
Beⓘ Rhodizite(K,Cs)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28
Beⓘ Londonite(Cs,K,Rb)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28
BBoron
Bⓘ Béhierite(Ta5+,Nb5+)(BO4)
Bⓘ ChambersiteMn32+(B7O13)Cl
Bⓘ DanburiteCaB2Si2O8
Bⓘ Rhodizite(K,Cs)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28
Bⓘ Tourmaline var. RubelliteA(D3)G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
Bⓘ TourmalineAD3G6 (T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
Bⓘ Londonite(Cs,K,Rb)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28
Bⓘ Schiavinatoite(Nb,Ta)(BO4)
CCarbon
Cⓘ Bismutite(BiO)2CO3
OOxygen
Oⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Oⓘ Béhierite(Ta5+,Nb5+)(BO4)
Oⓘ Bismutite(BiO)2CO3
Oⓘ BityiteCaLiAl2(AlBeSi2O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ BerylBe3Al2(Si6O18)
Oⓘ ChambersiteMn32+(B7O13)Cl
Oⓘ CryptomelaneK(Mn74+Mn3+)O16
Oⓘ DanburiteCaB2Si2O8
Oⓘ FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
Oⓘ HübneriteMnWO4
Oⓘ Columbite-(Mn)Mn2+Nb2O6
Oⓘ Tantalite-(Mn)Mn2+Ta2O6
Oⓘ Fluorapatite var. Manganese-bearing Fluorapatite(Ca,Mn2+)5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH) or Ca5([P,Mn5+]O4)3(F,Cl,OH)
Oⓘ MicroclineK(AlSi3O8)
Oⓘ MonaziteREE(PO4)
Oⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Oⓘ Pollucite(Cs,Na)2(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2O
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ Rhodizite(K,Cs)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28
Oⓘ Tourmaline var. RubelliteA(D3)G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
Oⓘ Quartz var. Smoky QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ SpodumeneLiAlSi2O6
Oⓘ TourmalineAD3G6 (T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
Oⓘ Xenotime-(Y)Y(PO4)
Oⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
Oⓘ Londonite(Cs,K,Rb)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28
Oⓘ Schiavinatoite(Nb,Ta)(BO4)
FFluorine
Fⓘ FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
Fⓘ Fluorapatite var. Manganese-bearing Fluorapatite(Ca,Mn2+)5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH) or Ca5([P,Mn5+]O4)3(F,Cl,OH)
NaSodium
Naⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Naⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Naⓘ Pollucite(Cs,Na)2(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2O
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
AlAluminium
Alⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Alⓘ BityiteCaLiAl2(AlBeSi2O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ BerylBe3Al2(Si6O18)
Alⓘ MicroclineK(AlSi3O8)
Alⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Alⓘ Pollucite(Cs,Na)2(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2O
Alⓘ Rhodizite(K,Cs)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28
Alⓘ SpodumeneLiAlSi2O6
Alⓘ Londonite(Cs,K,Rb)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28
SiSilicon
Siⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Siⓘ BityiteCaLiAl2(AlBeSi2O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ BerylBe3Al2(Si6O18)
Siⓘ DanburiteCaB2Si2O8
Siⓘ MicroclineK(AlSi3O8)
Siⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Siⓘ Pollucite(Cs,Na)2(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2O
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ Quartz var. Smoky QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ SpodumeneLiAlSi2O6
Siⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
PPhosphorus
Pⓘ FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
Pⓘ Fluorapatite var. Manganese-bearing Fluorapatite(Ca,Mn2+)5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH) or Ca5([P,Mn5+]O4)3(F,Cl,OH)
Pⓘ MonaziteREE(PO4)
Pⓘ Xenotime-(Y)Y(PO4)
ClChlorine
Clⓘ ChambersiteMn32+(B7O13)Cl
Clⓘ Fluorapatite var. Manganese-bearing Fluorapatite(Ca,Mn2+)5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH) or Ca5([P,Mn5+]O4)3(F,Cl,OH)
KPotassium
Kⓘ CryptomelaneK(Mn74+Mn3+)O16
Kⓘ MicroclineK(AlSi3O8)
Kⓘ Rhodizite(K,Cs)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28
Kⓘ Londonite(Cs,K,Rb)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28
CaCalcium
Caⓘ BityiteCaLiAl2(AlBeSi2O10)(OH)2
Caⓘ DanburiteCaB2Si2O8
Caⓘ FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
Caⓘ Fluorapatite var. Manganese-bearing Fluorapatite(Ca,Mn2+)5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH) or Ca5([P,Mn5+]O4)3(F,Cl,OH)
Caⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
MnManganese
Mnⓘ ChambersiteMn32+(B7O13)Cl
Mnⓘ CryptomelaneK(Mn74+Mn3+)O16
Mnⓘ HübneriteMnWO4
Mnⓘ Columbite-(Mn)Mn2+Nb2O6
Mnⓘ Tantalite-(Mn)Mn2+Ta2O6
Mnⓘ Fluorapatite var. Manganese-bearing Fluorapatite(Ca,Mn2+)5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH) or Ca5([P,Mn5+]O4)3(F,Cl,OH)
RbRubidium
Rbⓘ Londonite(Cs,K,Rb)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28
YYttrium
Yⓘ Xenotime-(Y)Y(PO4)
ZrZirconium
Zrⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
NbNiobium
Nbⓘ Béhierite(Ta5+,Nb5+)(BO4)
Nbⓘ Columbite-(Mn)Mn2+Nb2O6
Nbⓘ Schiavinatoite(Nb,Ta)(BO4)
CsCaesium
Csⓘ Pollucite(Cs,Na)2(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2O
Csⓘ Rhodizite(K,Cs)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28
Csⓘ Londonite(Cs,K,Rb)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28
TaTantalum
Taⓘ Béhierite(Ta5+,Nb5+)(BO4)
Taⓘ Tantalite-(Mn)Mn2+Ta2O6
Taⓘ Microlite GroupA2-mTa2X6-wZ-n
Taⓘ Schiavinatoite(Nb,Ta)(BO4)
WTungsten
Wⓘ HübneriteMnWO4
BiBismuth
Biⓘ BismuthBi
Biⓘ Bismutite(BiO)2CO3

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

Madagascar
Somali PlateTectonic Plate

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

(n.d.)
(n.d.)
(n.d.)
Duparc, Louis, Wunder, M., Sabot, R. (1910) Les Minéraux des Pegmatites des environs d'Antsirabé a Madagascar. Mémoires de la Société de Physique et d'Histoire Naturelle de Geneve Vol. 36 (3)
Lacroix, Alfred (1912) Sur quelques minéraux des pegmatites du Vakinankaratra (Madagascar) Bulletin de Minéralogie, 35 (2) 76-84 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1912.3497pp.76-84
Behier, Jean (1963) Carte minéralogique de Madagascar. Archive Service Géologique de Madagascar A.1871
Pezzotta, Federico (1999) Madagaskar. Das Paradies der Mineralien und Edelsteine. extraLapis 17. Christian Weise Verlagpp.70-73
Demartin, Francesco, Diella, Valeria, Gramaccioli, Carlo M., Pezzotta, Federico (2001) Schiavinatoite, (Nb,Ta)BO4, the Nb analogue of behierite. European Journal of Mineralogy, 13 (1) 159-165 doi:10.1127/0935-1221/01/0013-0159
Simmons, W. B., Pezzotta, F., Falster, A. U., Webber, K. L. (2001) Londonite, a new mineral species: the Cs-dominant analogue of rhodizite from the Antandrokomby granitic pegmatite, Madagascar. The Canadian Mineralogist, 39 (3) 747-755 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.39.3.747
Laurs, Brendan M., Pezzotta, Federico, Simmons, William B. (Skip), Falster, Alexander U., Muhlmeister, Sam (2002) Rhodizite-Londonite from the Antsongombato Pegmatite, Central Madagascar. Gems & Gemology, 38 (4) 326-339 doi:10.5741/gems.38.4.326
Pezzotta, Federico, Diella,V., Demartin, F. , Simmons, W.B (2003) Londonit aus Madagaskar - eine neue Mineralart [Londonite from Madagascar - a new mineral]. Lapis, 28 (2) 35-38
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