Mineral collecting in Southern Africa This section is an introduction and guide to mineral collecting
in Southern Africa. You will find general information about the geology of Southern Africa (at the moment only South Africa) as well the status of mineral collecting in Southern Africa. Furthermore information is given on the mineral societies. Various collectors in Southern Africa are also introduced. Other sites deal more indeapth with the main mineral locations and the mineral news in Southern Africa.
Index of the General Information on Collecting:
1 Geology
1.1 The geology of South Africa
1.2 The geology of Namibia (planned)
1.3 The geology of Zimbabwe (planned)
1.4 The geology of Mozambique (planned)
1.5 The geology of Malawi (planned)
The geological formations illustrated on the map range from some of the oldest known on Earth, for example, the Barberton Supergroup, to modern-day deposits and sand dunes of the Kalahari. Many rock-types are found in these geological formations. Sedimentary conglomerates, sandstones and shale form the large sections of the Witwatersrand, Cape and Karoo Supergroups; limestones, dolomites and iron-formations occur in the Transvaal Supergroup; metamorphic granulites, amphibolites and schists outcrop in the Limpopo region, the Northern Cape Province and Namaqualand; igneous granites constitute parts of the Kaapvaal Craton in the Northern and Eastern Transvaal Provinces; gabbros and other chrome-rich and plaatinum-rich igneous rock are found in the Bushveld Complex, and ancient volcanic lavas form the Ventersdorp Supergroup and the uppermost portion of the Karoo Supergroup.1
Mineralogical Society of Johannesburg:
The meetings of the Mineralogical Society of Johannesburg are held every 2. Wednesday of the month at RAU. Here one can usually buy
specimens as well as meet people who can give you the latest mineral news.
There are many private colectors in Southern Africa. In particular many are to bee found in South Africa. This is not surprising as South Africa has such a rich mineral resources.
Minerals from their collection are shown wherever possilble.
East London East London Museum, Upper Oxford road - General display of rocks and minerals.
Graaf-Reinet
The Graaf-Reinet Museum has a display of fossils.
Grahamstown Albany Museum, Somerset street - A collection in the Natural History section displays rocks, minerals and fossils.
King Williams Town Kaffrarian Museum, 3 Lower Albert street - An old Cape museum, a section has items of geological interest.
Port Elizabeth Port Elizabeth Museum, Beach Road, Humewood - The geology of the local area is displayed via maps ans specimens as well as some minerals, fossils and an 85 kg meteorite.
Queenstown
Queenstown and Frontier Museum, 13 Shepstone street - A small geological section is on display.
Free State
Bloemfontein National Museum, 36 Aliwal street - Many fossils are displayed as well as an extensive mineral collection with specimens from worldwide localities.
University of the Orange Free State, Department of Geology - Mineral specimens from various localities as well as stratigraphic specimens are on display.
Gauteng
Johannesburg Bleloch Museum, Department of Geology, University of the Witwatersrand, Jan Smuts Avenue - This collection has mineral specimens from southern Africa and overseas localities. Also displayed is a small systematic collection ans several examples of gold-gearing ore, some with visible gold, from the South African gold mines.
