Collectors have long sought the fiery crystals of Vanadinite, scouring the market for new specimens. However, a fresh source for Vanadinite had been lacking, and to acquire a sample of the mineral, collectors had to purchase old, resold, material. With initial finds hastily absorbed by the market, the finest pieces of Vanadinite were limited to private collections, rarely to be seen by most Vanadinite enthusiasts.
In early 2019, new deposits of Vanadinite were discovered in the Mibladen mining district of Morocco. In the span of a few months, the supply changed, and collectors were once again seeking to acquire this glamorous mineral.
More About Vanadinite
Crystals of Vanadinite occur in a distinct hexagonal form and cerise color desirable among collectors. Vanadinite is a secondary phosphate mineral belonging to the apatite group. The mineral is a notable ore of the element vanadium, an industrial metal. In fact, the name Vanadium was derived from Vanadinite, the mineral through which Vanadium itself was discovered. However, the primary interest of Vanadinite is its collectible properties and beauty.
Mining and Geology of Mibladen
The Mibladen District is nested in the xeric Atlas mountains of Morocco. The arid climate enables Lead and Vanadium to be oxidized and crystallize without the disruption of precipitation, thus allowing crystalline Vanadinite to form.
Lead was originally mined commercially in the District around the mid-1930s until the mines closed in 1983. Since then, the District has been repurposed as a source of collectible minerals, worked periodically by prospectors after major discoveries of collectible minerals or “booms”. One such mining boom occurred in the early 2000s, when the first Mibladen Vanadinites were recovered.
The Discovery
A group of miners searched the area in proximity to previously dug wells, burrowing a shaft 60 feet below the surface. It was there that a mining fever began: scarlet crystals of Vanadinite lined the walls of the newly found pocket described as “colossal”.
Physical Characteristics of the Findings
Crystals from the new workings, both large in size and vivid in color, are among the finest produced from the Mibladen district. They occur in the hexagonal prism shape characteristic of Vanadinite. These crystals are generally colored scarlet red as opposed to the deeper burgundy of crystals from older finds. Most of the Vanadinites recovered are embedded in a tan host or other lead minerals such as galena and barite. The finer specimens are floaters free of matrix (an example of such is shown below).
The Ensuing Mining Rush
The discovery of Vanadinite sparked a mining rush in the Midelt region. Many prospectors camped at the mines in pursuit of “lead ruby” - and the ensuing profits. Relatively successful pockets of Vanadinite contained over $10,000 dollars worth of crystals. However, the reward was not without risk, and many prospectors found themselves with an empty shaft after the investment of costly instruments and hours of arduous labor.
The Future of Mibladen Mining
Mining at the region is cyclical, and, as the current rush wanes, with a new discovery, the next will begin.
Beauty will always be pursued. The Mibladen Vanadinite rush is a story of the pursuit of mineralogical beauty, profit, and science.
References
Mibladen mining district, Midelt Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco. (n.d.). Mindat.Org ↗. Retrieved February 21, 2021, from https://www.mindat.org/loc-2396.html ↗
Valuing Vanadinite: Witness to Morocco’s Modern Mining Rush. (2020, June 26). Rock & Gem Magazine. https://www.rockngem.com/valuing-vanadinite-witness-to-moroccos-modern-mining-rush/ ↗
The Story of Vanadinite. (2021, March 24). Rock & Gem Magazine. https://www.rockngem.com/the-story-of-vanadinite/ ↗