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Vanadinite, a striking lead chlorovanadate mineral (Pb₅(VO₄)₃Cl), is one of the most eye-catching members of the apatite group, admired by collectors for its vivid red, orange, and brown hexagonal crystals and brilliant lustre. It forms primarily in the oxidised zones of lead ore deposits, often in association with wulfenite and mimetite. Although found in many countries, only a select few localities have produced specimens of exceptional colour, size, and perfection.
The following list highlights fifteen of the world’s most famous or significant vanadinite localities, each renowned for its unique contribution to the mineral’s beauty and history.
1. Mibladen, Midelt, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco – The world’s premier source of bright red, lustrous vanadinite crystals, often on white barite. Their exceptional size and colour saturation make these specimens the standard for collectors.
2. Taouz, Errachidia, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco – Produces darker red to brownish crystals, often on a black goethite or brassy siderite matrix. It stands out due to its unique crystal habit and striking contrast.
3. Touissit, Bou Beker, Jerada, Morocco – Known for gem-like, fiery-red, brown and yellow vanadinite crystals and classic specimens collected in the mid-20th century; highly sought by collectors.
4. Apache Mine, Gila County, Arizona, USA – Classic U.S. source of orange-red crystals with hexagonal prisms; popular among historic American mineral collectors.
5. Old Yuma Mine, Pima County, Arizona, USA – Produces smaller but intensely coloured vanadinite crystals, sometimes associated with wulfenite.
6. North Geronimo Mine, La Paz County, Arizona, USA – Outstanding deep red-orange vanadinite with sharp, well-formed crystals. Specimens often show crystals of two different sizes, indicating two generations of growth.
7. Mammoth–St Anthony Mine, Tiger, Arizona, USA – Historic locality known for fine, lustrous crystals; Tiger vanadinites are considered among the most desirable from the U.S. These crystals are often associated with yellow mimetite.
8. Julio Mine, Córdoba, Andalusia, Spain – Striking multi-faceted tabular crystals with bright yellow-orange colour on matrix; less common but visually appealing. These crystals are occasionally associated with coronadite.
9. Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia – Classic old locality producing yellow-brown vanadinite crystals; rare but important as historic specimens.
10. Tsumeb Mine, Oshikoto, Namibia – Rare at the location but striking honey-red to brown crystals. Tsumeb’s chemistry and complex oxidation zone produce vanadinite with remarkable associations, including descloizite and tsumcorite, and hemimorphite.
11. Los Lamentos, Chihuahua, Mexico – Historic and highly collectible; dark red to orange crystals on calcite or barite, often from old mine dumps. Associations with willemite and descloizite.
12. Ojuela Mine, Mapimí, Durango, Mexico – Striking specimens of very attractive golden-brown acicular vanadinite on matrix, often alongside wulfenite or mimetite. Larger, barrel-shaped brown crystals are also present.
13. Zimapán, Hidalgo, Mexico – A classic North American locality where vanadinite was first identified in the 19th century; historically significant. Striking, hexagonal, barrel-shaped crystals of deep brown vanadinite.
14. Wanlockhead, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland – A classic Scottish location where vanadinite is most commonly found as small orange, seed-like crystals on matrix, often associated with white pyromorphite.
15. Whitwell Quarry, Hodthorpe and Belph, Derbyshire, England – An unusual globular form of vanadinite covering micro acicular bluish phosphohedyphane. Also as attractive barrel-shaped, orange-brown crystals.