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:
Botswana

Oldest recorded age at locality: 2700
Youngest recorded age at locality: 0

mindat Locality ID: 23358
mindat URL: http://www.mindat.org/loc-23358.html

Tectonic Settings:

Total number of sublocalities beneath "Botswana": 57
Total number of bottom-level sublocalities: 34

Number of Child Localities: 9
Child Localities:
Central District
Ghanzi District
Kgalagadi District
Kgatleng District
Kweneng District
North-East District
North-West District
South-East District
Southern District

Latitude: 22°35'12"S
Longitude: 24°46'41"E
Decimal Degree (lat, lon): -22.586666666667,24.778055555556

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: Ag Al As Au B Ba Bi C Ca Cl Co Cu F Fe H Hg K Mg Mn Mo N Na Ni O P Pb Pd Pt Re Rh S Si Sn Te Ti Zn 

Elements from minerals reported directly at this locality: Al O Si 

Structural Groups for minerals in this locality: 
AluniteAmphiboleAndalusiteApatiteArcaniteBaryteBiphosphammiteCalciteChalcopyriteChalcostibite
ClayClinozoisiteCobaltiteCopperCoronaditeCorundumCovelliteDiamondDiasporeDigenite
DumortieriteEpidoteFeldsparGarnetGypsumHumboldtineMarcasiteMeloniteMicaMolybdenite
NickelineNoneNot in a structural groupOlivineOxalatePentlanditePerovskitePicromeritePotaritePyrite
PyroxeneQuartzRocksaltRutileSphaleriteSpinelSpurrite-AfwilliteStruviteSyngeniteUllmannite

82 IMA Minerals at location:
Albite  (*)Altaite  (*)Andalusite  (*)Arcanite  (*)Argentopentlandite  (*)
Azurite  (*)Baryte  (*)Biphosphammite  (*)Bornite  (*)Boussingaultite  (*)
Bultfonteinite  (*)Calcite  (*)Cassiterite  (*)Chalcocite  (*)Chalcopyrite  (*)
Cobaltite  (*)Covellite  (*)Ice-VII  (*)Diamond  (*)Digenite  (*)
Diopside  (*)Dittmarite  (*)Dumortierite  (*)Emplectite  (*)Enstatite  (*)
Epidote  (*)Fluorapatite  (*)Forsterite  (*)Freudenbergite  (*)Galena  (*)
Gedrite  (*)Glushinskite  (*)Goethite  (*)Gold  (*)Graphite  (*)
Gwihabaite  (*)Gypsum  (*)Hematite  (*)Hessite  (*)Hollandite  (*)
Hollingworthite  (*)Ilmenite  (*)Kotulskite  (*)Kudryavtsevaite  (*)Kyanite  (*)
Magnesite  (*)Magnetite  (*)Manganite  (*)Marcasite  (*)Melonite  (*)
Merenskyite  (*)Michenerite  (*)Molybdenite  (*)Muscovite  (*)Natroalunite  (*)
Natrojarosite  (*)Orthoclase  (*)Pentlandite  (*)Perovskite  (*)Phlogopite  (*)
Potarite  (*)Preiswerkite  (*)Pyrite  (*)Pyrolusite  (*)Pyrope  (*)
Pyrrhotite  (*)Quartz  (*)Rheniite  (*)Smythite  (*)Sperrylite  (*)
Sphalerite  (*)Spinel  (*)Stromeyerite  (*)Struvite  (*)Sylvite  (*)
Syngenite  (*)Temagamite  (*)Thermonatrite  (*)Trona  (*)Ulvöspinel  (*)
Violarite  (*)Weddellite  (*)
Mineral nameStructural GroupsIMA FormulaMax Age (Ma)Min Age (Ma)# of Sublocalities containing mineralLOCALITY IDs, not mindat ids# of localities containing mineral
Albite  (*)FeldsparNa(AlSi3O8)1268758803
Altaite  (*)RocksaltPbTe126875489
Andalusite  (*)AndalusiteAl2SiO52700001310
Arcanite  (*)ArcaniteK2(SO4)12690030
Argentopentlandite  (*)PentlanditeAg(Fe,Ni)8S812687567
Azurite  (*)Not in a structural groupCu3(CO3)2(OH)29009001268625509
Baryte  (*)BaryteBa(SO4)12687011547
Biphosphammite  (*)Biphosphammite(NH4)H2(PO4)1000012689311
Bornite  (*)NoneCu5FeS4900900426864,26887,26891,268975516
Boussingaultite  (*)Picromerite(NH4)2Mg(SO4)2·6H2O1000012689330
Bultfonteinite  (*)Spurrite-AfwilliteCa2SiO3(OH)F·H2O12685620
Calcite  (*)CalciteCa(CO3)27002500326859,26878,2689727770
Cassiterite  (*)RutileSnO21268485171
Chalcocite  (*)NoneCu2S900900526864,26886,26887,26891,268975707
Chalcopyrite  (*)ChalcopyriteCuFeS227009001126864,26875,26877,26878,26879,26881,26882,26886,26887,26891,2689727198
Cobaltite  (*)CobaltiteCoAsS126882966
Covellite  (*)CovelliteCuS270025001268784165
Ice-VII  (*)NoneH2O1268571
Diamond  (*)DiamondC526852,26853,26856,26857,26904697
Digenite  (*)DigeniteCu1.8S1268971027
Diopside  (*)PyroxeneCaMgSi2O6326853,26855,269044135
Dittmarite  (*)None(NH4)Mg(PO4)·H2O100001268937
Dumortierite  (*)DumortieriteAlAl6BSi3O18226883,26894231
Emplectite  (*)ChalcostibiteCuBiS2126897246
Enstatite  (*)PyroxeneMg2Si2O6126853944
Epidote  (*)Epidote ClinozoisiteCa2(Al2Fe3+)[Si2O7][SiO4]O(OH)1268758173
Fluorapatite  (*)ApatiteCa5(PO4)3F1268502740
Forsterite  (*)OlivineMg2(SiO4)226853,268551188
Freudenbergite  (*)NoneNa(Ti4+3Fe3+)O81268558
Galena  (*)RocksaltPbS900900526864,26875,26882,26887,2689724243
Gedrite  (*)Amphibole   Mg2(Mg3Al2)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)227002500126878178
Glushinskite  (*)Humboldtine OxalateMg(C2O4)·2H2O100001268935
Goethite  (*)DiasporeFeO(OH)270025001268787437
Gold  (*)CopperAu426873,26874,26875,2688230554
Graphite  (*)NoneC1942900226857,268862812
Gwihabaite  (*)None(NH4)(NO3)1000012689310
Gypsum  (*)GypsumCa(SO4)·2H2O100001268936890
Hematite  (*)CorundumFe2O32700900426859,26864,26878,2689414640
Hessite  (*)NoneAg2Te226875,26882804
Hollandite  (*)CoronaditeBa(Mn4+6Mn3+2)O16126859243
Hollingworthite  (*)UllmanniteRhAsS126875119
Ilmenite  (*)CorundumFe2+Ti4+O327002500426853,26855,26857,268785433
Kotulskite  (*)NickelinePd(Te,Bi)2-x (x ≈ 0.4)226882,26897116
Kudryavtsevaite  (*)Not in a structural groupNa3MgFe3+Ti4O121268551
Kyanite  (*)Not in a structural groupAl2OSiO4226883,268941507
Magnesite  (*)CalciteMg(CO3)2700900226868,268711487
Magnetite  (*)SpinelFe2+Fe3+2O427002500526855,26877,26878,26879,2688114899
Manganite  (*)RutileMn3+O(OH)126859770
Marcasite  (*)MarcasiteFeS2270025001268785674
Melonite  (*)MeloniteNiTe2126882207
Merenskyite  (*)MelonitePdTe2126875155
Michenerite  (*)UllmannitePdBiTe126882114
Molybdenite  (*)MolybdeniteMoS2226875,268975800
Muscovite  (*)Mica ClayKAl2(Si3Al)O10(OH)2426859,26875,26881,2689417380
Natroalunite  (*)AluniteNaAl3(SO4)2(OH)627002500126878128
Natrojarosite  (*)AluniteNaFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)627002500126878254
Orthoclase  (*)FeldsparK(AlSi3O8)1268592349
Pentlandite  (*)Pentlandite(Ni,Fe)9S827002500626875,26877,26878,26879,26881,268821512
Perovskite  (*)PerovskiteCaTiO3226854,26855495
Phlogopite  (*)Mica ClayKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2326853,26855,269042273
Potarite  (*)PotaritePdHg12689725
Preiswerkite  (*)MicaNaAlMg2(Si2Al2)O10(OH)212688814
Pyrite  (*)PyriteFeS22700900426878,26881,26882,2688739462
Pyrolusite  (*)RutileMnO21268593106
Pyrope  (*)GarnetMg3Al2(SiO4)3126855341
Pyrrhotite  (*)NickelineFe7S827002500626875,26877,26878,26879,26881,268829056
Quartz  (*)QuartzSiO227002500626849,26859,26870,26875,26878,2689761156
Rheniite  (*)NoneReS21268758
Smythite  (*)None(Fe,Ni)3+xS4 (x ≈ 0-0.3)2700250012687877
Sperrylite  (*)PyritePtAs2226875,26882337
Sphalerite  (*)SphaleriteZnS226875,2689721482
Spinel  (*)SpinelMgAl2O4326853,26888,269041934
Stromeyerite  (*)NoneCuAgS126897332
Struvite  (*)Struvite(NH4)Mg(PO4)·6H2O1000012689330
Sylvite  (*)RocksaltKCl126895275
Syngenite  (*)SyngeniteK2Ca(SO4)2·H2O1000012689344
Temagamite  (*)NonePd3HgTe312689724
Thermonatrite  (*)NoneNa2(CO3)·H2O12689564
Trona  (*)NoneNa3(HCO3)(CO3)·2H2O126895129
Ulvöspinel  (*)SpinelFe2+2TiO4126855120
Violarite  (*)SpinelFeNi2S427002500126878380
Weddellite  (*)OxalateCa(C2O4)·2H2O1000012689332



Locality Notes from all Ages at Locality:
Age IDLocality Notes
Michelle_662Basal Ni-Cu sulfides in mafic-ultramafic intrusion
Michelle_823A guano and fossil rich cave in the dolomitic hills of Gcwihaba Valley. Fossils indicate heavy sedimentation at the Plio-Pleistocene boundary, with ongoing spleothem mineralization.
Michelle_824Drotsky's Cave lies in dolomitic marbles of the Upper Proterozoic Otavi Group or Damara Sequence


10 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
sedcu-00066900900U. Proterozoic       Cu228263Ghanzi Mine, Ghanzi District, Ghanzi District, BotswanaGhanziCox et al. (2003) USGSOFR03_107 
EG105_1057_032270027002700       Ni, Cu, Pt, Pd, Rh, Ir, Os, Ru190662Selebi-Phikwe Belt (Selbi-Pikwe), Francistown District, North-East District, BotswanaSelebi-PhikweBegg et al. (2010)10.2113/econgeo.105.6.1057EG105_1057 
Michelle_66225002500>2500 Age of deposit or general age of the metallogenic province     Ni, Cu190662Selebi-Phikwe Belt (Selbi-Pikwe), Francistown District, North-East District, BotswanaSelebi-PhikweHoatson et al. (2006)10.1016/j.oregeorev.2006.05.002OGR29_177See Table. 1 Global resources of nickel metal and ages of the major nickel sulfide deposits of the world. Age can refer to the age of a specific nickel sulfide deposit, or the general age of the metallogenic province containing nickel deposits that are similar to a dated deposit (e.g. 2705 Ma Komatiite-hosted deposits in the Eastern Goldfields Province).
JAES18_87_0001193819101924 ± 14Rb-Srmineralizationmuscovite   Muscovite  228258Bushman Group, Tutume District, North-East District, BotswanaBushman GroupBarton (1994) JAES18_87 
JAES18_87_0002194219141928 ± 14Rb-Srmineralizationmuscovite   Muscovite  228258Bushman Group, Tutume District, North-East District, BotswanaBushman GroupBarton (1994) JAES18_87 
sedcu-00063900900U. Proterozoic       Cu228258Bushman Group, Tutume District, North-East District, BotswanaBushman GroupCox et al. (2003) USGSOFR03_107 
sedcu-00065900900U. Proterozoic       Cu228261Matsitama Cu Deposits (incl. Logolo Deposit; Makala Deposit; Thakadu Deposit), Tutume District, North-East District, BotswanaMatsitamaCox et al. (2003) USGSOFR03_107 
sedcu-00064900900U. Proterozoic       Cu228259Ngwako Pan, Ngamiland East District, North-West District, BotswanaNgwako PanCox et al. (2003) USGSOFR03_107 
Michelle_8232.502.5-0fossil faunaAge of cave sedimentation      5807Gcwihaba Cave (Drotsky's Caverns), Ngamiland West District, North-West District, BotswanaDrotsky's CavernsPickford (1990) BNR22_1At the time of ancient cavern formation, the water table lay about 30 metres higher than the present datum in the floor of the Gcwihabadum. The fauna indicated an age for the sediments of about 2.5 million years. Thus considerable erosion can be postulated to have occurred in the region since the end of the Pliocene.
Michelle_8241000541Upper Proterozoic Age of host rock      5807Gcwihaba Cave (Drotsky's Caverns), Ngamiland West District, North-West District, BotswanaDrotsky's CaveRailsback et al. (1999)10.1080/02723646.1999.10642682PG20_331Drotsky's Cave lies in dolomitic marbles of the Upper Proterozoic Otavi Group or Damara Sequence


SampleSource LocalityReference URL


All locality data graciously provided by mindat.org

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