This specimen is Vanadinite, a lead vanadate chloride (Pb₅(VO₄)₃Cl), formed as a secondary mineral in the oxidation zones of lead ore deposits. The striking red to orange hexagonal crystals seen here are classic for Mibladen, one of the world’s most important vanadinite localities. Geologically, these crystals developed when primary lead minerals (such as galena) were altered by oxygen-rich groundwater, allowing vanadium to combine with lead and chlorine under arid, oxidizing conditions. The result is the sharp, well-defined hexagonal prisms and tabular crystals with high luster and saturated color that Mibladen is famous for—often growing in stacked or columnar formations, as visible in this piece.

Historically, the Mibladen mining district has been worked since the early 20th century, primarily for lead, with vanadinite discovered as a spectacular byproduct. Moroccan vanadinites entered the international mineral market in the mid-to-late 1900s and quickly became legendary among collectors due to their exceptional crystal form, color intensity, and size. Today, Mibladen vanadinite is considered a classic world mineral, frequently featured in museum collections and high-end private assemblages. Specimens like this one represent both a geological process tied to oxidation chemistry and a historical legacy of North African mining that reshaped the global mineral-collecting landscape.

**Specimen from historic collection of Luiz Menezes, one of Brazil’s most respected mineral collectors from Brazil**

Approximate measurements: 48.67 x 18.74 x 20.88 mm

Weight: 20.91 g