History · Geology
About Madagascar Pegmatites (Sahatany / Antsirabe)
The pegmatite belt of central Madagascar — particularly the Sahatany Valley, Antsirabe and Antanifotsy regions — is one of the world’s great Li-Be-rare-element pegmatite provinces, producing world-class tourmaline, beryl, phenakite, danburite, and many gem species. Mining has been active since the early 20th century.
Geology
The pegmatites cut Precambrian metamorphic basement of the Madagascar block. Li-Cs-Ta enriched melts crystallized in tabular and zoned pegmatite bodies with extensive miarolitic cavity development, producing exceptional gem pockets.
Notable Minerals
Tourmaline (multicolor elbaite, schorl, dravite, watermelon zoning — among the world’s best), beryl (aquamarine, morganite, heliodor, goshenite), phenakite (Sahatany sharp rhombohedral crystals — gem grade), euclase, danburite (gem yellow crystals), spodumene, muscovite, feldspar (Sahatany cleavelandite “balls”).
Collector Notes
Madagascar specimens dominate modern gem-pegmatite displays. Sahatany phenakite and tourmaline define the species’ modern gem standard.
