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:
Southern Region, Malawi

Oldest recorded age at locality: 164
Youngest recorded age at locality: 100

mindat Locality ID: 305410
mindat URL: http://www.mindat.org/loc-305410.html

Tectonic Settings:

Total number of sublocalities beneath "Southern Region, Malawi": 40
Total number of bottom-level sublocalities: 27

Number of Child Localities: 13
Child Localities:
Balaka
Blantyre
Chikwawa
Chiradzulu
Machinga
Mangochi
Mulanje
Mwanza
Neno
Nsanje
Phalombe
Thyolo
Zomba

Latitude: 15°29'51"S
Longitude: 35°14'36"E
Decimal Degree (lat, lon): -15.4975,35.243333333333
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 Sb Si Sn Sr Th Ti W Y Yb Zn Zr 

Elements from minerals reported directly at this locality: 

Structural Groups for minerals in this locality: 
AluniteAmphiboleAndalusiteApatiteAragoniteAstrophylliteBaryteBastnäsiteBerylCalcite
Cancrinite-sodaliteChevkiniteClayClinozoisiteColumbiteCordyliteCorundumDiasporeElpiditeEpidote
EudialyteFeldsparFluoriteGadoliniteGarnetGypsumMicaMilariteMonaziteNone
Not in a structural groupOlivineParisitePerovskitePyritePyroxeneQuartzRhabdophaneRocksaltRutile
SapphirineScheeliteSmectite-vermiculiteSodaliteSphaleriteSpinelStauroliteTitaniteTridymiteWöhlerite
Zircon

93 IMA Minerals at location:
Aegirine  (*)Aenigmatite  (*)Albite  (*)Anatase  (*)Andalusite  (*)
Andradite  (*)Ankerite  (*)Annite  (*)Arfvedsonite  (*)Astrophyllite  (*)
Barylite  (*)Baryte  (*)Bastnäsite-(Ce)  (*)Beryl  (*)Boulangerite  (*)
Britholite-(Ce)  (*)Calcite  (*)Cassiterite  (*)Caysichite-(Y)  (*)Celestine  (*)
Cerianite-(Ce)  (*)Churchite-(Y)  (*)Cordylite-(Ce)  (*)Corundum  (*)Daqingshanite-(Ce)  (*)
Diaspore  (*)Dingdaohengite-(Ce)  (*)Dolomite  (*)Elpidite  (*)Epididymite  (*)
Epidote  (*)Eudialyte  (*)Eudidymite  (*)Fayalite  (*)Fergusonite-(Y)  (*)
Ferro-katophorite  (*)Ferro-richterite  (*)Fluorapatite  (*)Fluorite  (*)Gadolinite-(Y)  (*)
Galena  (*)Genthelvite  (*)Goethite  (*)Goyazite  (*)Hedenbergite  (*)
Helvine  (*)Hematite  (*)Hingganite-(Y)  (*)Ilmenite  (*)Kainosite-(Y)  (*)
Kupletskite  (*)Låvenite  (*)Magnetite  (*)Microcline  (*)Milarite  (*)
Monazite-(Ce)  (*)Monticellite  (*)Muscovite  (*)Nepheline  (*)Niobophyllite  (*)
Orthoclase  (*)Parisite-(Ce)  (*)Perovskite  (*)Phlogopite  (*)Polycrase-(Y)  (*)
Polylithionite  (*)Pyrite  (*)Pyromorphite  (*)Pyrophanite  (*)Quartz  (*)
Rhabdophane-(Ce)  (*)Rhabdophane-(La)  (*)Riebeckite  (*)Rosenbuschite  (*)Rutile  (*)
Scheelite  (*)Siderite  (*)Sillimanite  (*)Sodalite  (*)Sphalerite  (*)
Spinel  (*)Staurolite  (*)Strontianite  (*)Synchysite-(Ce)  (*)Synchysite-(Y)  (*)
Thorite  (*)Titanite  (*)Vermiculite  (*)Wöhlerite  (*)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+Si2O6140117779950,79955,79966,79969,79973,79974,799751022
Aenigmatite  (*)SapphirineNa4[Fe2+10Ti2]O4[Si12O36]179955133
Albite  (*)FeldsparNa(AlSi3O8)119117379955,79960,799698803
Anatase  (*)Not in a structural groupTiO21401261799662162
Andalusite  (*)AndalusiteAl2SiO51799551310
Andradite  (*)GarnetCa3Fe3+2(SiO4)3145100279966,799771534
Ankerite  (*)NoneCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2145100679940,79941,79959,79965,79966,799773092
Annite  (*)Mica ClayKFe2+3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2119117179969356
Arfvedsonite  (*)AmphiboleNaNa2(Fe2+4Fe3+)Si8O22(OH)2164100479939,79955,79969,79971295
Astrophyllite  (*)AstrophylliteK2NaFe2+7Ti2(Si4O12)2O2(OH)4F164100379939,79955,79969161
Barylite  (*)NoneBaBe2Si2O711911717996933
Baryte  (*)BaryteBa(SO4)145100679940,79941,79959,79965,79966,7997711547
Bastnäsite-(Ce)  (*)BastnäsiteCe(CO3)F140117279966,79969304
Beryl  (*)BerylBe3Al2Si6O181799524286
Boulangerite  (*)NonePb5Sb4S11129117179940843
Britholite-(Ce)  (*)Apatite(Ce,Ca)5(SiO4)3(OH)164100179939115
Calcite  (*)CalciteCa(CO3)145100779940,79941,79959,79965,79966,79969,7997727770
Cassiterite  (*)RutileSnO21191171799695171
Caysichite-(Y)  (*)None(Ca,Yb,Er)4Y4(Si8O20)(CO3)6(OH)·7H2O1191171799698
Celestine  (*)BaryteSr(SO4)1401261799661252
Cerianite-(Ce)  (*)FluoriteCeO211911717996994
Churchite-(Y)  (*)GypsumY(PO4)·2H2O11911717996970
Cordylite-(Ce)  (*)Cordylite(Na,Ca,   )BaCe2(CO3)4(F,O)11911717996915
Corundum  (*)CorundumAl2O3379947,79955,799601797
Daqingshanite-(Ce)  (*)NoneSr3Ce(PO4)(CO3)31291171799409
Diaspore  (*)DiasporeAlO(OH)179960481
Dingdaohengite-(Ce)  (*)Chevkinite(Ce,La)4Fe2+(Ti,Fe2+,Mg,Fe3+)2Ti2Si4O221799553
Dolomite  (*)NoneCaMg(CO3)2140117379940,79959,799669895
Elpidite  (*)ElpiditeNa2ZrSi6O15·3H2O11911717996950
Epididymite  (*)Not in a structural groupNa2Be2Si6O15·H2O119117279950,7996970
Epidote  (*)Epidote ClinozoisiteCa2(Al2Fe3+)[Si2O7][SiO4]O(OH)1191171799698173
Eudialyte  (*)EudialyteNa15Ca6Fe3Zr3Si(Si25O73)(O,OH,H2O)3(Cl,OH)2164100279939,79969182
Eudidymite  (*)NoneNa2Be2Si6O15·H2O11911717996942
Fayalite  (*)OlivineFe2+2(SiO4)179955371
Fergusonite-(Y)  (*)ScheeliteYNbO4119117179969196
Ferro-katophorite  (*)AmphiboleNa(NaCa)(Fe2+4Al)(Si7Al)O22(OH)217995538
Ferro-richterite  (*)AmphiboleNa(NaCa)Fe2+5Si8O22(OH)217995530
Fluorapatite  (*)ApatiteCa5(PO4)3F129117279940,799652740
Fluorite  (*)FluoriteCaF2164100779939,79940,79959,79965,79966,79969,799779617
Gadolinite-(Y)  (*)GadoliniteY2Fe2+Be2O2(SiO4)2119117179969163
Galena  (*)RocksaltPbS11911717996924243
Genthelvite  (*)Cancrinite-sodalite SodaliteBe3Zn4(SiO4)3S11911717996960
Goethite  (*)DiasporeFeO(OH)140117279966,799697437
Goyazite  (*)AluniteSrAl3(PO4)(PO3OH)(OH)6129117179940173
Hedenbergite  (*)PyroxeneCaFe2+Si2O6179955741
Helvine  (*)Sodalite Cancrinite-sodaliteBe3Mn2+4(SiO4)3S119117179969237
Hematite  (*)CorundumFe2O311911717996914640
Hingganite-(Y)  (*)GadoliniteBeY(SiO4)(OH)11911717996955
Ilmenite  (*)CorundumFe2+Ti4+O3140117379953,79966,799695433
Kainosite-(Y)  (*)NoneCa2Y2(SiO3)4(CO3)·H2O11911717996999
Kupletskite  (*)AstrophylliteK2NaMn2+7Ti2(Si4O12)2O2(OH)4F16410017993933
Låvenite  (*)Wöhlerite(Na,Ca)4(Mn2+,Fe2+)2(Zr,Ti,Nb)2(Si2O7)2(O,F)416410017993958
Magnetite  (*)SpinelFe2+Fe3+2O4145100579940,79953,79960,79966,7997714899
Microcline  (*)FeldsparK(AlSi3O8)145100679955,79969,79970,79971,79973,799774924
Milarite  (*)MilariteKCa2(Be2AlSi12)O30·H2O119117179969156
Monazite-(Ce)  (*)MonaziteCe(PO4)129117279940,79969945
Monticellite  (*)OlivineCaMg(SiO4)129117179940153
Muscovite  (*)Mica ClayKAl2(Si3Al)O10(OH)2119117279960,7996917380
Nepheline  (*)TridymiteNa3K(Al4Si4O16)164100579939,79940,79945,79961,79965884
Niobophyllite  (*)AstrophylliteK2NaFe2+7(Nb,Ti)2(Si4O12)2O2(OH)4(O,F)119117279950,799698
Orthoclase  (*)FeldsparK(AlSi3O8)1191171799692349
Parisite-(Ce)  (*)ParisiteCaCe2(CO3)3F2140117379965,79966,79969112
Perovskite  (*)PerovskiteCaTiO3129117279940,79941495
Phlogopite  (*)Mica ClayKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2145100279940,799772273
Polycrase-(Y)  (*)ColumbiteY(Ti,Nb)2(O,OH)6119117179969121
Polylithionite  (*)MicaKLi2AlSi4O10F211911717996989
Pyrite  (*)PyriteFeS2145100279965,7997739462
Pyromorphite  (*)ApatitePb5(PO4)3Cl1191171799691725
Pyrophanite  (*)CorundumMn2+TiO3164100279939,79969244
Quartz  (*)QuartzSiO21451001579940,79948,79950,79952,79955,79959,79963,79965,79966,79969,79970,79973,79974,79975,7997761156
Rhabdophane-(Ce)  (*)RhabdophaneCe(PO4)·H2O11911717996966
Rhabdophane-(La)  (*)RhabdophaneLa(PO4)·H2O11911717996913
Riebeckite  (*)Amphibole   Na2(Fe2+3Fe3+2)Si8O22(OH)2119117279955,79969375
Rosenbuschite  (*)NoneCa6Zr2Na6ZrTi(Si2O7)4(OF)2F416410017993942
Rutile  (*)RutileTiO2145100479940,79953,79969,799775614
Scheelite  (*)ScheeliteCa(WO4)1191171799694894
Siderite  (*)CalciteFe(CO3)145100479940,79966,79969,799776417
Sillimanite  (*)Not in a structural groupAl2SiO51799551516
Sodalite  (*)Cancrinite-sodalite SodaliteNa4(Si3Al3)O12Cl164100179939444
Sphalerite  (*)SphaleriteZnS129117279940,7996921482
Spinel  (*)SpinelMgAl2O41451001799771934
Staurolite  (*)StauroliteFe2+2Al9Si4O23(OH)129117179940978
Strontianite  (*)AragoniteSr(CO3)140117379940,79965,79966589
Synchysite-(Ce)  (*)NoneCaCe(CO3)2F140117379965,79966,79969232
Synchysite-(Y)  (*)NoneCaY(CO3)2F17994155
Thorite  (*)ZirconTh(SiO4)1191171799691006
Titanite  (*)TitaniteCaTi(SiO4)O164100579939,79953,79966,79969,799774899
Vermiculite  (*)Clay Smectite-vermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4·8H2O179958652
Wöhlerite  (*)WöhleriteNa2Ca4Zr(Nb,Ti)(Si2O7)2(O,F)416410017993983
Wulfenite  (*)ScheelitePbMoO41191171799691655
Xenotime-(Y)  (*)ZirconY(PO4)129117379940,79965,79969939
Zektzerite  (*)NoneNaLiZrSi6O1511911717996911
Zircon  (*)ZirconZr(SiO4)119117779943,79953,79960,79965,79969,79973,799755251


Locality Notes from all Ages at Locality:
Age IDLocality Notes
Jen_0000738MAGMATIC STYLE: Sheets, plugs and irregular intrusions. ASSOCIATED SILICATE ROCKS: Fenites; possible nephelinite much replaced by carbonate.
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.
Jen_0000754MAGMATIC STYLE: Arcuate dykes and sheets of massive carbonatite and carbonatite agglomerate at two centres. ASSOCIATED SILICATE ROCKS: Nepheline syenite, ijolite and feldspathoid-bearing carbonate-silicate rocks; dykes of nephelinite, melanephelinite, phonolite including analcime- and leucite-bearing varieties, sölvsbergite and carbonate-rich lamprophyres with pseudomorphs after melilite; sodic and potassic fenites.


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
ree-00428164100Late Jurassic - Early Cretaceous        30879Junguni Hill, Balaka, Southern Region, MalawiJunguniOrris and Grauch (2002) USGSOFR02_189 
Jen_0000738129117123±6K-Ar phlogopite   Phlogopite  26430Kangankunde Hill, Balaka, Southern Region, MalawiKangankundeWoolley and Kjarsgaard (2008)10.4095/225115GSCOF5796 
ree-00425129117Late Cretaceous- 123 ± 6 Ma (K-Ar, phlo)K-Ar phlogopite   Phlogopite  26430Kangankunde Hill, Balaka, Southern Region, MalawiKangankundeOrris and Grauch (2002) USGSOFR02_189 
Jen_0000754140126133K-Ar biotite     26431Tundulu Complex, Phalombe, Southern Region, MalawiTunduluWoolley and Kjarsgaard (2008)10.4095/225115GSCOF5796 
ree-00423140126Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous-- 133 ± 7 Ma (K-Ar, bio, sovite)K-Ar biotite     26431Tundulu Complex, Phalombe, Southern Region, MalawiTunduluOrris and Grauch (2002) USGSOFR02_189 
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
X050181Blantyre, Southern Region, Malawihttps://rruff.info/X050181
R150046Mulanje Massif (Mlange Massif), Mulanje, Southern Region, Malawihttps://rruff.info/R150046
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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