Riemvasmaak, famous for hot springs and fluorite and quartz combination mineral specimens (among other types), is located in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa 60 km from the small Northern Cape town of Kakamas in a remote desert-mountain wilderness area between the Orange and Molopo rivers, close to the Namibian border. Mindat shows the exact location of the mining area as 3 km from the village of Riemvasmaak.
The sign indicating we're close to Riemvasmaak and the hot springs!
A local villager in Riemvasmaak compliments Jurgen Tron on his pink sunglasses.
Mark Kielbaso and Jurgen Tron looking at material offered by the locals.
Jurgen Tron selecting material inside a local dwelling.
John Lucking watching Jurgen Tron select fluorites.
Jurgen Tron mulling over his options.
Local is happy to sell a piece to Jurgen Tron.
Jurgen Tron happy with his purchase at Riemvasmaak.
Jurgen Tron looking at another lot of fluorite local villagers have for sale.
A little girl is suspicious of John Lucking's size.
The little girl's mother showing a pile of fluorite specimens for sale.
The little girl shows off some breakdancing moves.
Inspecting some more fluorite specimens at Riemvasmaak.
Leaving the village of Riemvasmaak, heading to the mining area.
Leaving the village of Riemvasmaak, heading to the mining area.
Parked in the valley below the locality.
Hiking up to the locality, looking back at the valley below.
Looking north, toward the Orange River.
Jurgen Tron lost in the bushes.
Still hiking to the locality.
The view of the truck and the valley floor from the locality.
Arriving at the mining area.
A local mining cooperative.
Consulting with the cooperative members about the availablity and quality of material.
The cooperative hard at work at the locality.
Mark Kielbaso and Jurgen Tron inspecting the ore reserves.
Oops that's his foot.
Mark Kielbaso using a big hammer for a small task.
A close up of the octahedron.
Look, it's an octahedron!
A local miner showing off a large fluorite octahedron covered in mud.
Mark inspecting one of the large fluorite octahedrons, this piece is featured in a later video.
A pocket, open and producing material.
Local miner is supporting ANC candidate Jacob Zuma.
Fluorite and quartz in situ.
Fluorite and quartz post extraction.
A small pile of vibrantly green colored fluorites.
A particularly large fluorite and quartz specimen.
A quartz vein in the valley floor.
Carrying specimens back to the truck.
Giving some of the local miners a lift back to the village from the locality.
Giving some of the local miners a lift back to the village from the locality.
Mark Kielbaso holding a large green fluorite octahedron.
We ran into another local with fluorite for sale.
Paul Balayer standing at the mythical Pella fluorite locality.
A local miner at the pre-mentioned mythical Pella locality.
Paul Balayer's crew at the Riemvasmaak locality.
Looking down from the Riemvasmaak locality.
Looking down from the Riemvasmaak locality in another direction.
Jurgen (one of Paul's men) has dug out and reinforced a nice looking adit.
The most coveted material, green fluorite and amethyst var. quartz.
Looking back up at Riemvasmaak as we descend into the valley.
Amethyst and Fluorite, a winning combination!
The Northern Cape's wild flower route through the legendary Namaqua land.
The Northern Cape's wild flower route through the legendary Namaqua land.
The Northern Cape's wild flower route through the legendary Namaqua land.
The Northern Cape's wild flower route through the legendary Namaqua land.
The Northern Cape's wild flower route through the legendary Namaqua land.
The Northern Cape's wild flower route through the legendary Namaqua land.
Good material on display in cases from a local mineral dealer.
Prepared material ready for sale.
Prepared material ready for sale.
Prepared material ready for sale.
Prepared material ready for sale.
Prepared material ready for sale.
Prepared material ready for sale.
Prepared material ready for sale.
Prepared material ready for sale.
Prepared material ready for sale.
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