dimension stone in namibia - gov · the dimension stone industry in namibia has been in existence...

Dimension Stonein Namibia

ContentsAn Untapped Potential ......................................................................................................................................................................... 3Namibian Varieties .................................................................................................................................................................................. 5Dark Palisandro Marble...................................................................................................................................................................... 7Light Palisandro Marble ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8African White Marble........................................................................................................................................................................... 9African Green Marble ........................................................................................................................................................................ 10Namibian Desert Marble .................................................................................................................................................................... 11Potoro Leonardo Marble ................................................................................................................................................................. 12Karibib White Marble .......................................................................................................................................................................... 13White Rhino Marble............................................................................................................................................................................. 14Copra Black Marble ........................................................................................................................................................................... 15Esserando Marble............................................................................................................................................................................... 16Namibian Green Marble ...................................................................................................................................................................... 17Desert Green Marble ......................................................................................................................................................................... 18Namib Harlequin Marble .................................................................................................................................................................... 19Namibian Rose Marble ........................................................................................................................................................................20Okatji Rose Marble ............................................................................................................................................................................. 21Alsato Marble ......................................................................................................................................................................................22Kalahari Sand Granite .......................................................................................................................................................................23Tropical Sun Granite ..........................................................................................................................................................................24Namibian Pearl Granite ......................................................................................................................................................................25Goas White Granite .............................................................................................................................................................................26Güldenrot Granite ..............................................................................................................................................................................27Ubib Granite ...........................................................................................................................................................................................28Omenje Black Dolerite ......................................................................................................................................................................29Rooikop Granite ...................................................................................................................................................................................30Namib Aragonite ................................................................................................................................................................................... 31African Blue Sodalite ........................................................................................................................................................................32Contacts ................................................................................................................................................................................................33

The dimension stone industry in Namibia has been in existence since the earlyyears of this century, however its potential has not yet been fully developed.Namibia should use its varied geological environments to continue takeadvantage of this opportunity. Namibia�s complex geological history,especially in the central portions of the country, have given rise to a varietyof metamorphic and tectonic environments that have formed rock types suchas marbles, calc-silicates, carbonatites, granitiods and mafic intrusives thathave unique colours and textures (e.g. banding, folding, brecciation) that haveenormous potential as dimension stone.

Although annual production of marble and granite has only shown a slightincrease in tonnage produced since 1993, averaging 13 750 tons of marbleand 6 200 tons of granite per year, there has been an increase in the rangenow available. This is mainly due to the upswing in dimension stoneexploration in Namibia, with 32 new Exclusive Prospecting Licence (EPL)applications having been received since 1994 (16 in last year alone), bringingthe total number of EPLs to 48. Over the same period, two new MiningLicences for dimension stone have been granted and three applications arepending.

Modern quarrying and processing machinery and techniques have beenintroduced over the past fifteen years. Modern quarrying techniques nowemployed in Namibia include diamond wire and chain saw cutting for marbleand flame cutting for granite. Marmorwerke Karibib has installed a fullyautomated and computerised tile cutting and polishing plant.

Good intrastructure such as roads, rail links and habour facilities areavailable. Electricity and water can be obtained, even in the remotest partsof the country.

An Untapped Potential

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Currently the majority of Namibia�s dimension stone production is exportedas blocks and this trend will continue for the foreseeable future as thepremium prices paid for first grade blocks will ensure that these will alwaysbe exported. Second grade blocks have the potential to be used as feedmaterial for further local processing plants producing high qualitypolished slabs and tiles for the international market. The economic viabilityof such a processing plant that is not linked to a quarrying operation wouldbe enhanced by acquiring Economic Processing Zone status, due to the taxincentive and other advantages.

Any waste material can be used by labour intensive, low technologyoperations manufacturing paving stones, curbing and gate posts or as feedfor small, mobile stone crushing plants. these possibilities could providemuch needed employment while helping rehabilitation by clearing the waste.

The ornamental use of dimension stone is largely ignored in Namibia and thisshould be developed. The production of columns, table tops, gardenfountains and suchlike would add value. Likewise, the use of marble andpyrophyllite, as examples, for statues and carvings would be a hit withNamibia�s burgeoning tourism industry.

Namibia�s internal market for dimension stone is small being limited mainly totomb stone manufacture with the occasional building cladding/flooringapplication. Regionally, Namibia exported 11.6% (1603t) and 18.4% (1228t) ofits 1997 marble and granite production respectively to southern Africancountries, mainly South Africa. With the opening of the Trans-Kalahari(through Botswana) and Trans-Caprivi (to zambia and zimbabwe) highways, thepotential for developing markets for processed slabs and tiles to othersouthern and central african countries has become a reality.

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MarbleMarmorwerke Karibib historically has produces a dark grey tightly foldedmarble with alternating white and grey to dark grey layers (Zebra, CapraBlack) from Capra Hill, 3-km northwest of Karibib, a white marble (KaribibWhite) from Town Quarry, 5 km southeast of Karibib and Esserando, a pinkyellowish marble from Dernberg Hill situated 10 km west of karibib. Recentlya calc-silicate marble that contains dark green serpentinite grains withinwhite to cream coloured carbonate matrix (Namibian Green, Namib Harlequin,Desert Green) is exploited just north of Nonidas, 10-km east of Swakopmundwhile White Rhino, a white marble is quarried 20-km south of Karibib.

Aus Marble (Pty) Ltd quarries the Potoro Leonardo variety, a brecciated blackmarble with a golden yellow matrix, 100-km south of Aus.

Two new comers into the market are Okatji Marble (Pty) Ltd and EtusisMarble (Pty) Ltd. Okatji Marble (Pty) Ltd has developed a quarry some 10-kmeast of Karibib to produce Namibian Rose and Okatji Rose from an off whitemarble containing various amounts of pink tremolite. Several white, nearwhite and banded white marbles are being tested for exploitation by EtusisMarble (Pty) Ltd on the farms Etusis and Kubas, 30-km south-west of Karibib.

The Palissandro Marble (Pty) Ltd is situated some 45 km southwest of Karibibon the farm Gamikaub West. Five different marbles are produced. a greyish-white (African White) uni-coloured fine-grained marble, a white marble withlight green schlieren (African Green), a greyish-green marble with occasionallight brown streaks (Namib Desert), a light yellowish-brownish bandeddolomitic marble (Light Palissandro) which grades into a greyish-brown in-tensely folded variety (Dark Palissandro).

Namibian Varieties

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Granite Marmorwerke Karibib quarries a medium to coarse grained, equigranulargranite near Spitzkoppe. The white variety is known as Namibian Pearl, theyellow as Tropical Sun and the light brown as Kalahari Sand. Thierportfolio also includes Guldenrot, a deep reddish brown, medium to finegrained, equigranular alkali-granite in the Okahanja District; Ubib, a coarsegrained red pegmatitic granite with a slightly porphyritic texture; and GoasWhite, a uniform textured whitish-grey coarse-grained slightly porphyriticgranite, both occurring south-west of Karibib. Omenje Black, a fine to medium grained dolerite with a greenish-black colour and ophitic texture isquarried south-east of Omaruru.

Damara Granite (Pty) Ltd markets a yellowish-brown granite quarried nearRooikop, 15-km east of Walvis Bay.

Marlin Granite Namibia (Pty) Ltd has been investigating a light green granitegneiss with red garnet porphyroblasts occurring 12-km southeast of WalvisBay and a pinkish-yellow porphyritic granite at Okombahe, 16-km east of Uis.

Namstone (Pty) Ltd is exploring a course-grained red granite on the farmRietkuil, Opuwo district, a light grey to white granite on Etendero 95 and apink porphyritic granite on Morewag 480, both in the Omaruru district.

OtherAfrican Blue is quarried from sodalite and ankerite bearing carbonatite dykesoccurring some 10-km west of Swartbooisdrif, 4-km south of the Kunene Riverby Namibia Blue Sodalite (Pty) Ltd.

Namib Aragonite which occurs as white, yellow and light brown bandedvarieties is found in the desert near Namib Lead Mine, 40-km northeast ofSwakopmund is exploited by Marmorwerke Karibib.

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Dark Palisandro Marble

NAMEROCK TYPECOLOURLOCALITY

TONALITY VARIATIONAVAILABILITYGENERAL USESCONTACT

Dark PalisandroMarbledark greyish-brown bandedGamikaub West 11545km SW of Karibibmediumgoodinteriors / exteriorsPalisandro Marble Namibia

10 x 10 cm

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Light Palisandro Marble

NAMEROCK TYPECOLOUR

LOCALITYTONALITY VARIATIONAVAILABILITYGENERAL USESCONTACT

Light PalisandroMarblelight yellow/brown bandedGamikaub West 11545km SW of KaribibmediumgoodinteriorsPalisandro Marble Namibia

10 x 10 cm

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African White Marble



African WhiteMarblegreyish-whiteGamikaub West 11545km SW of Karibibhighgoodinteriors / exteriorsPalisandro Marble Namibia

10 x 10 cm

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African Green Marble



African GreenMarblewhite, light green schlierenGamikaub West 11545km SW of Karibibhighgoodinteriors / exteriorsPalisandro Marble Namibia

10 x 10 cm

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Namibian Desert Marble



Namibian DesertMarblewhite with brownGamikaub West 11545km SW of Karibibhighgoodexteriors / interiorsPalisandro Marble Namibia

10 x 10 cm

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Potoro Leonardo Marble

NAME

ROCK TYPECOLOURLOCALITY


10 x 10 cm

Potoro Leonardo / GoldenBlackMarbleblack breccia golden infillSwaartkloofberg 9590km south of AuslowgoodinteriorsAus Marble

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Karibib White Marble



Karibib WhiteMarblewhiteTown Quarry, Karibib 545km SE of Karibiblow/mediumgoodinteriorsMarmorwerke Karibib

10 x 10 cm

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White Rhino Marble



White RhinoMarbleWhiteHabis 7125km south of KaribiblowgoodinteriorsMarmorwerke Karibib

10 x 10 cm

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Copra Black Marble



Copra Black / ZebraMarblewhite/black bandedKaribib 54 - Capra Hill3km NW of Karibibhighmedium / lowinteriorsMarmorwerke Karibib

10 x 10 cm

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Esserando Marble



EsserandoMarbleyellowish-pinkKaribib 54 - Dernburg Hill4km west of Karibibmediumbadinteriors / exteriorsMarmorwerke Karibib

7 x 7 cm

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Namibian Green Marble



Namibian / Nonidas GreenMarblegreenNonidas15km east of Swakopmundmediumgoodinteriors / exteriorsMarmorwerke Karibib

10 x 10 cm

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Desert Green Marble



Desert GreenMarblewhite with greenNonidas15km east of Swakopmundmediumgoodinteriors / exteriorsMarmorwerke Karibib

10 x 10 cm

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Namib Harlequin Marble



Namib / Nonidas HarlequinMarblegreen/brownNonidas15km east of Swakopmundhighgoodinteriors / exteriorsMarmorwerke Karibib

10 x 10 cm

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Namibian Rose Marble



Namibian RoseMarblewhite with pinkOkatjimukuju 5514km east of Karibibhighgoodinteriors / exteriorsOkatji Marble

10 x 10 cm

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Okatji Rose Marble



Okatji RoseMarblewhite with pinkOkatjimukuju 5514km east of Karibibhighgoodinteriors / exteriorsOkatji Marble

10 x 10 cm

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Alsato Marble



Alsato WitvleiMarblepinkish-greyKehoro 18354km NW of Gobabismediumbadinteriors / exteriors-

8 x 8.5 cm

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Kalahari Sand Granite



Kalahari SandGraniteyellowish-brownSpitzkoppe60km west of Usakoslowgoodexteriors / interiorsMarmorwerke Karibib

10 x 10 cm

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Tropical Sun Granite



Tropical Sun / Namib GelbGranitebrownish- yellowSpitskoppe60km west of Usakoslowgoodexteriors / interiorsMarmorwerke Karibib

10 x 10 cm

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Namibian Pearl Granite

NAME

ROCK TYPECOLOURLOCALITY


Namibian Pearl / AfricanPearlGraniteirredecent whiteSpitzkoppe60km west of Usakoslowgoodexteriors / interiors Marmorwerke Karibib

10 x 10 cm

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Goas White Granite



Goas WhiteGranodioritewhitish-greyHabis 7125km south of Karibiblow/mediumgoodexteriors / interiorsMarmorwerke Karibib

10 x 10 cm

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Güldenrot Granite



Güldenrot / Namib RedGranitereddish-brownGuldenboden 28043km NNE of Okahandjalowgoodexteriors / interiorsMarmorwerke Karibib

10 x 10 cm

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Ubib Granite



Ubib / KhanGraniteredUbib 7635km SW of Karibiblow/mediumgoodexteriors /interiorsMarmorwerke karibib

10 x 10 cm

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Omenje Black Dolerite



OmenjeDoleritegreenish-blackOmenje 11945km SE of Omarurulowgoodexteriors / interiorsMarmorwerke Karibib

10 x 10 cm

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Rooikop Granite



Giallo Duna / JuparanaGraniteyellowish-greyRooikop15km east of Walvis BaylowGoodexteriors / interiorsDamara Granite

7 x 7.5 cm

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Namib Aragonite



Namib AragoniteAragoniteBanded white, cream, tanNamib Lead Mine30km east of Swakopmundhighgoodinteriors / ornamentsMarmorwerke Karibib

8.5 x 7 cm

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African Blue Sodalite

NAMEROCK TYPECOLOUR

LOCALITY


African BlueSodaliteBlue with white and lightbrown10km SW ofSwartbooisdrifthighgoodinteriors / ornamentsNamibia Blue Sodalite

10 x 10 cm

ContactsMarmorwerke Karibib (Pty) LtdP O Box 20KaribibTel: 064 550002Fax: 064 550108

Palisandro Marble Namibia (Pty) LtdP O Box 157KaribibTel: 064 550011Fax: 064 550172

Damara Granite (Pty) LtdP O Box 401Walvis BayTel: 064 202012Fax: 064 205066

Aus Marble (Pty) Ltdc/o Damara Granite (Pty) Ltd

Namibia Blue Sodalite (Pty) Ltdc/o P F Koep & CompanyP O Box 3516WindhoekTel: 061 224591Fax: 061 23355

Okatji Marble (Pty) LtdP O Box 20244 WindhoekTel: 061 251837Fax: 061 251837

Etusis Marble (Pty) LtdP O Box 20244 WindhoekTel: 061 251837Fax: 061 251837

Marlin Granite Namibia (Pty) LtdP O Box 30 P O Box 65043Windhoek Benmore 2010

South AfricaTel: 061 237257Fax: 061 232309

Namstone (Pty) LtdP O Box 30106WindhoekTel: + 27 21 887 7915Fax: 064 234586

dimension stone in namibia - gov · the dimension stone industry in namibia has been in existence...

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