Olmite on Calcite

N’Chwaning II is part of the Kalahari Manganese Field, one of the largest manganese-producing regions in the world. The mines around Kuruman have been important sources of manganese since large-scale mining began in the area in the 1950s.

N’Chwaning II is especially well known among collectors for unusual manganese minerals, like olmiite, which was first recognized as a mineral species from the Kalahari Manganese Field. Specimens from the mine are highly sought after for their distinctive crystal forms and association with calcite.