Mineral Evolution Database
Created and maintained by the Mineral Evolution Project in partnership with RRUFF and mindat.
Mineral locality data provided by mindat.org



The Mineral Evolution database is currently under development.

The goal of this page is to present localities at which the mineral is found, and estimates of the oldest possible geologic age of the minerals at these localities.


Locality Name:
Zomba, Southern Region, Malawi

Oldest recorded age at locality: 145
Youngest recorded age at locality: 100

mindat Locality ID: 125829
mindat URL: http://www.mindat.org/loc-125829.html

Tectonic Settings:

Total number of sublocalities beneath "Zomba, Southern Region, Malawi": 9
Total number of bottom-level sublocalities: 8

Number of Child Localities: 2
Child Localities:
Mount Malosa
Nchisi Island (Chilwa Island; Shirwa Island)

Latitude: 15°19'54"S
Longitude: 35°36'7"E
Decimal Degree (lat, lon): -15.331666666667,35.601944444444
AThis mineral is Anthropogenic.
GThis mineral is directly dated.
BThis mineral is reported as having this age.
YThis mineral is using an age reported as an element mineralization period.
OThis mineral is using an age calculated from all data at the locality.
RThe age displayed for this mineral originates from a different, non-child locality.
PThe age displayed for this mineral is the range of ages for this mineral at all of this locality's children.
This mineral's age has not yet been recorded.

This Mineral list contains entries from this locality, including sub-localities. Minerals in bold are reported by mindat.org as occurring directly at this locality, and do not occur at any children (sublocalities) of this locality.

Elements at this locality, including sub-localities: Al Ba Be C Ca Ce Cl Er F Fe H K La Li Mg Mn Mo Na Nb O P Pb S Si Sn Th Ti W Y Yb Zn Zr 

Elements from minerals reported directly at this locality: 

Structural Groups for minerals in this locality: 
AmphiboleApatiteAstrophylliteBaryteBastnäsiteCalciteCancrinite-sodaliteClayClinozoisiteColumbite
CordyliteCorundumDiasporeElpiditeEpidoteEudialyteFeldsparFluoriteGadoliniteGarnet
GypsumMicaMilariteMonaziteNoneNot in a structural groupParisitePyritePyroxeneQuartz
RhabdophaneRocksaltRutileScheeliteSodaliteSphaleriteSpinelTitaniteZircon

62 IMA Minerals at location:
Aegirine  (*)Albite  (*)Andradite  (*)Ankerite  (*)Annite  (*)
Arfvedsonite  (*)Astrophyllite  (*)Barylite  (*)Baryte  (*)Bastnäsite-(Ce)  (*)
Calcite  (*)Cassiterite  (*)Caysichite-(Y)  (*)Cerianite-(Ce)  (*)Churchite-(Y)  (*)
Cordylite-(Ce)  (*)Elpidite  (*)Epididymite  (*)Epidote  (*)Eudialyte  (*)
Eudidymite  (*)Fergusonite-(Y)  (*)Fluorite  (*)Gadolinite-(Y)  (*)Galena  (*)
Genthelvite  (*)Goethite  (*)Helvine  (*)Hematite  (*)Hingganite-(Y)  (*)
Ilmenite  (*)Kainosite-(Y)  (*)Magnetite  (*)Microcline  (*)Milarite  (*)
Monazite-(Ce)  (*)Muscovite  (*)Niobophyllite  (*)Orthoclase  (*)Parisite-(Ce)  (*)
Phlogopite  (*)Polycrase-(Y)  (*)Polylithionite  (*)Pyrite  (*)Pyromorphite  (*)
Pyrophanite  (*)Quartz  (*)Rhabdophane-(Ce)  (*)Rhabdophane-(La)  (*)Riebeckite  (*)
Rutile  (*)Scheelite  (*)Siderite  (*)Sphalerite  (*)Spinel  (*)
Synchysite-(Ce)  (*)Thorite  (*)Titanite  (*)Wulfenite  (*)Xenotime-(Y)  (*)
Zektzerite  (*)Zircon  (*)
Mineral nameStructural GroupsIMA FormulaMax Age (Ma)Min Age (Ma)# of Sublocalities containing mineralLOCALITY IDs, not mindat ids# of localities containing mineral
Aegirine  (*)PyroxeneNaFe3+Si2O6119117479969,79973,79974,799751022
Albite  (*)FeldsparNa(AlSi3O8)1191171799698803
Andradite  (*)GarnetCa3Fe3+2(SiO4)31451001799771534
Ankerite  (*)NoneCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)21451001799773092
Annite  (*)Mica ClayKFe2+3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2119117179969356
Arfvedsonite  (*)AmphiboleNaNa2(Fe2+4Fe3+)Si8O22(OH)2119117279969,79971295
Astrophyllite  (*)AstrophylliteK2NaFe2+7Ti2(Si4O12)2O2(OH)4F119117179969161
Barylite  (*)NoneBaBe2Si2O711911717996933
Baryte  (*)BaryteBa(SO4)14510017997711547
Bastnäsite-(Ce)  (*)BastnäsiteCe(CO3)F119117179969304
Calcite  (*)CalciteCa(CO3)145100279969,7997727770
Cassiterite  (*)RutileSnO21191171799695171
Caysichite-(Y)  (*)None(Ca,Yb,Er)4Y4(Si8O20)(CO3)6(OH)·7H2O1191171799698
Cerianite-(Ce)  (*)FluoriteCeO211911717996994
Churchite-(Y)  (*)GypsumY(PO4)·2H2O11911717996970
Cordylite-(Ce)  (*)Cordylite(Na,Ca,   )BaCe2(CO3)4(F,O)11911717996915
Elpidite  (*)ElpiditeNa2ZrSi6O15·3H2O11911717996950
Epididymite  (*)Not in a structural groupNa2Be2Si6O15·H2O11911717996970
Epidote  (*)Epidote ClinozoisiteCa2(Al2Fe3+)[Si2O7][SiO4]O(OH)1191171799698173
Eudialyte  (*)EudialyteNa15Ca6Fe3Zr3Si(Si25O73)(O,OH,H2O)3(Cl,OH)2119117179969182
Eudidymite  (*)NoneNa2Be2Si6O15·H2O11911717996942
Fergusonite-(Y)  (*)ScheeliteYNbO4119117179969196
Fluorite  (*)FluoriteCaF2145100279969,799779617
Gadolinite-(Y)  (*)GadoliniteY2Fe2+Be2O2(SiO4)2119117179969163
Galena  (*)RocksaltPbS11911717996924243
Genthelvite  (*)Cancrinite-sodalite SodaliteBe3Zn4(SiO4)3S11911717996960
Goethite  (*)DiasporeFeO(OH)1191171799697437
Helvine  (*)Sodalite Cancrinite-sodaliteBe3Mn2+4(SiO4)3S119117179969237
Hematite  (*)CorundumFe2O311911717996914640
Hingganite-(Y)  (*)GadoliniteBeY(SiO4)(OH)11911717996955
Ilmenite  (*)CorundumFe2+Ti4+O31191171799695433
Kainosite-(Y)  (*)NoneCa2Y2(SiO3)4(CO3)·H2O11911717996999
Magnetite  (*)SpinelFe2+Fe3+2O414510017997714899
Microcline  (*)FeldsparK(AlSi3O8)145100579969,79970,79971,79973,799774924
Milarite  (*)MilariteKCa2(Be2AlSi12)O30·H2O119117179969156
Monazite-(Ce)  (*)MonaziteCe(PO4)119117179969945
Muscovite  (*)Mica ClayKAl2(Si3Al)O10(OH)211911717996917380
Niobophyllite  (*)AstrophylliteK2NaFe2+7(Nb,Ti)2(Si4O12)2O2(OH)4(O,F)1191171799698
Orthoclase  (*)FeldsparK(AlSi3O8)1191171799692349
Parisite-(Ce)  (*)ParisiteCaCe2(CO3)3F2119117179969112
Phlogopite  (*)Mica ClayKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)21451001799772273
Polycrase-(Y)  (*)ColumbiteY(Ti,Nb)2(O,OH)6119117179969121
Polylithionite  (*)MicaKLi2AlSi4O10F211911717996989
Pyrite  (*)PyriteFeS214510017997739462
Pyromorphite  (*)ApatitePb5(PO4)3Cl1191171799691725
Pyrophanite  (*)CorundumMn2+TiO3119117179969244
Quartz  (*)QuartzSiO2145100679969,79970,79973,79974,79975,7997761156
Rhabdophane-(Ce)  (*)RhabdophaneCe(PO4)·H2O11911717996966
Rhabdophane-(La)  (*)RhabdophaneLa(PO4)·H2O11911717996913
Riebeckite  (*)Amphibole   Na2(Fe2+3Fe3+2)Si8O22(OH)2119117179969375
Rutile  (*)RutileTiO2145100279969,799775614
Scheelite  (*)ScheeliteCa(WO4)1191171799694894
Siderite  (*)CalciteFe(CO3)145100279969,799776417
Sphalerite  (*)SphaleriteZnS11911717996921482
Spinel  (*)SpinelMgAl2O41451001799771934
Synchysite-(Ce)  (*)NoneCaCe(CO3)2F119117179969232
Thorite  (*)ZirconTh(SiO4)1191171799691006
Titanite  (*)TitaniteCaTi(SiO4)O143117279969,799774899
Wulfenite  (*)ScheelitePbMoO41191171799691655
Xenotime-(Y)  (*)ZirconY(PO4)119117179969939
Zektzerite  (*)NoneNaLiZrSi6O1511911717996911
Zircon  (*)ZirconZr(SiO4)119117379969,79973,799755251


Locality Notes from all Ages at Locality:
Age IDLocality Notes
Jen_0000746MAGMATIC STYLE: Multiple plug comprising two arcuate and a central intrusion of carbonatite, and rare sheets amongst surrounding fenites. ASSOCIATED SILICATE ROCKS: Nepheline syenite and ijolite sheets; nephelinite, phonolite, trachyte, alnöite and camptonite dykes. Potassic and sodic fenites.
Jen_0000747MAGMATIC STYLE: Multiple plug comprising two arcuate and a central intrusion of carbonatite, and rare sheets amongst surrounding fenites. ASSOCIATED SILICATE ROCKS: Nepheline syenite and ijolite sheets; nephelinite, phonolite, trachyte, alnöite and camptonite dykes. Potassic and sodic fenites.
Jen_0000748MAGMATIC STYLE: Multiple plug comprising two arcuate and a central intrusion of carbonatite, and rare sheets amongst surrounding fenites. ASSOCIATED SILICATE ROCKS: Nepheline syenite and ijolite sheets; nephelinite, phonolite, trachyte, alnöite and camptonite dykes. Potassic and sodic fenites.


5 Ages assigned to this locality:

Excel IDMax Age (Ma)Min Age (Ma)Age as listed in referenceDating MethodAge InterpretPrioritized?Sample SourceSample NumRun NumAge from other LocalityDated MineralMinerals explicitely stated as having this ageAge applies to these ElementsMinDat Locality IDDated Locality (Max Age)Location as listed in referenceReferenceReference DOIReference IDAge Notes
Bradley_2012_037119117118±1U/Pb zircon   Zircon  2276Mount Malosa, Zomba, Southern Region, MalawiMt. MalosaMcCauley and Bradley (2014)10.3749/canmin.52.2.183CM52_183 
Jen_0000746130.9130.9130.9K-Ar biotite     26432Nchisi Island (Chilwa Island; Shirwa Island), Zomba, Southern Region, MalawiChilwa IslandWoolley and Kjarsgaard (2008)10.4095/225115GSCOF5796 
Jen_0000747143129136±7K-Ar titanite   Titanite  26432Nchisi Island (Chilwa Island; Shirwa Island), Zomba, Southern Region, MalawiChilwa IslandWoolley and Kjarsgaard (2008)10.4095/225115GSCOF5796 
Jen_0000748133.5118.1125.8±7.7K-Ar zircon   Zircon  26432Nchisi Island (Chilwa Island; Shirwa Island), Zomba, Southern Region, MalawiChilwa IslandWoolley and Kjarsgaard (2008)10.4095/225115GSCOF5796 
ree-00424145100Early Cretaceous        26432Nchisi Island (Chilwa Island; Shirwa Island), Zomba, Southern Region, MalawiChilwa IslandOrris and Grauch (2002) USGSOFR02_189 

SampleSource LocalityReference URL
R060620Zomba, Southern Region, Malawihttps://rruff.info/R060620
R170002Zomba, Southern Region, Malawihttps://rruff.info/R170002
R050074Mount Malosa, Zomba, Southern Region, Malawihttps://rruff.info/R050074
R110049Mount Malosa, Zomba, Southern Region, Malawihttps://rruff.info/R110049
R080143Mount Malosa, Zomba, Southern Region, Malawihttps://rruff.info/R080143
R110029Mount Malosa, Zomba, Southern Region, Malawihttps://rruff.info/R110029
R060383Mount Malosa, Zomba, Southern Region, Malawihttps://rruff.info/R060383
R110050Mount Malosa, Zomba, Southern Region, Malawihttps://rruff.info/R110050
R120005Mount Malosa, Zomba, Southern Region, Malawihttps://rruff.info/R120005
R110048Mount Malosa, Zomba, Southern Region, Malawihttps://rruff.info/R110048
R050082Mount Malosa, Zomba, Southern Region, Malawihttps://rruff.info/R050082

All locality data graciously provided by mindat.org

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