Ovamboite, an extremely rare germanium-tungsten sulphide mineral from Tsumeb is known only from this locality worldwide, which is of course the type locality. The mineral is metallic silvery-white and is associated with reddish grey germanite, tennantite and galenite. It is one of the rarities of the deposit and a very sought after species for every Tsumeb specialist. Analyzed specimen. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Ovamboite
Ovamboite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfide class, with the chemical formula Cu₁₀Fe₃WGe₃S₁₆.
It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system. It is a member of the Sphalerite, Germanite structural group.
Key properties: specific gravity 4.736; Metallic luster.
IMA symbol Ova, IMA status: approved, named in 1992.
Found in a germanium-bearing, base-metal, massive-sulfide deposit (Tsumeb); in a gold-bearing, base-metal, massive-sulfide deposit (Maikain).
It is found associated with Maikainite, germanite, germanocolusite (Tsumeb).
The name refers to the Ovamboland region of Namibia in which the first specimens were located.