Erongo Mountains - the haven of crystals

Adolf Kaure The ministry of mines and energy’s chief geoscientist at the Erongo regional office, Mubita Mubita, says the worth of the crystals found in the surrounding areas of the Erongo Mountain is undervalued.According to him, the economy can get a big boost if the government takes advantage of their value as it can address the unemployment phenomenon in the area.“I think the Karibib Gemstone Centre is a good initiative. I think that it should just become more further advanced so that they add value to the crystals.“All the final products should really be made at the centre for people to get employed because otherwise if we they just keep selling the gemstones on the side of the road, then we will just be exporting employment,” says Mubita. The crystals found near the Erongo Mountains include black tourmaline, fluoride, quartz, garnet and aquamarine.Good crystals can generate as much as up to N$500 000 each. When crystals have a repetitive pattern, then people pay a lot much for them.“If we were to come in assist these people then I think it would generate quite a lot for the country,” says Mubita. The government has not allowed large mining corporations to explore and open big mines in the area as it also wants to give the common man on the street a chance to be involved in mining. “This is why they allow them to allow them to apply for a mining claim,” he says.It costs around N$50 to get a mining claim for a 16-hectare mining area. “The government has tried to be flexible by allowing everyone to share of it. Maybe what we have to do is to just to try and expand that in terms of the selling and the value addition, then I think it will be a perfect process,” says Mubita. These valuable crystals take over millions of years to form. They emerge from molten magma that comes to the surface through volcanism. As this molten magma approaches the surface and gets to room temperature, it cools off. During the process of cooling off, the faster it cools off, the smaller the size of the crystal.”The slower it takes to cool off, the bigger and much better crystal become as it takes time to form a good crystal. adolf@erongo.com.na

Erongo Mountains - the haven of crystals

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Republikein 2026-06-23

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Erongo Mountains - the haven of crystals

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Republikein 2026-06-23

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