GPS coordinates are approximate.

Pliocene/Pleistocene lacustrine sediments.
G22, G24 and G25 submembers of the Shungura Formation.
Phosphates are associated with fossil fish scales and bones.

The Shungura Formation is a stratigraphic formation located in the Omo river basin in Ethiopia. It dates from the Late Pliocene to the Early Pleistocene. Oldowan tools have been found in the formation, suggesting early use of stone tools by hominins. Among many others, fossils of Panthera were found in Member G of the formation.

The formation comprises sandstones, siltstones, claystones and tuff, deposited in a fluvial to deltaic lacustrine environment.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List

ⓘ Calcite

ⓘ Gypsum

ⓘ Halite

ⓘ Hydroxylapatite

ⓘ var. Carbonate-rich Hydroxylapatite

7 valid minerals.

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Calcite

Formula: CaCO₃

Description: Calcite nodules in alkaline lacustrine sedimentation levels.

References:

Rogers, Robert J., Brown, Francis H. (1979) Authigenic mitridatite from the Shungura Formation, southwestern Ethiopia. American Mineralogist, 64 (1-2) 169-171

ⓘ Gypsum

Formula: CaSO₄ · 2H₂O

Description: In saline lacustrine sedimentation levels.

References:

Rogers, Robert J., Brown, Francis H. (1979) Authigenic mitridatite from the Shungura Formation, southwestern Ethiopia. American Mineralogist, 64 (1-2) 169-171

ⓘ Halite

Formula: NaCl

Description: In saline lacustrine sedimentation levels.

References:

Rogers, Robert J., Brown, Francis H. (1979) Authigenic mitridatite from the Shungura Formation, southwestern Ethiopia. American Mineralogist, 64 (1-2) 169-171

ⓘ Hydroxylapatite

Formula: Ca₅(PO₄)₃(OH)

Description: Micro-hexagonal prisms coprecipitated with mitridatite-robertsite.

References:

Rogers, Robert J., Brown, Francis H. (1979) Authigenic mitridatite from the Shungura Formation, southwestern Ethiopia. American Mineralogist, 64 (1-2) 169-171

ⓘ Hydroxylapatite var. Carbonate-rich Hydroxylapatite

Formula: Ca₅(PO₄,CO₃)₃(OH,O)

Description: Fossil remains constituent.

References:

Rogers, Robert J., Brown, Francis H. (1979) Authigenic mitridatite from the Shungura Formation, southwestern Ethiopia. American Mineralogist, 64 (1-2) 169-171

ⓘ 'Limonite'

References:

Rogers, Robert J., Brown, Francis H. (1979) Authigenic mitridatite from the Shungura Formation, southwestern Ethiopia. American Mineralogist, 64 (1-2) 169-171

ⓘ Mitridatite

Formula: Ca₂Fe³⁺₃(PO₄)₃O₂ · 3H₂O

Description: Feathery olive-green microcrystals.

References:

Rogers, Robert J., Brown, Francis H. (1979) Authigenic mitridatite from the Shungura Formation, southwestern Ethiopia. American Mineralogist, 64 (1-2) 169-171

ⓘ Quartz

Formula: SiO₂

References:

Rogers, Robert J., Brown, Francis H. (1979) Authigenic mitridatite from the Shungura Formation, southwestern Ethiopia. American Mineralogist, 64 (1-2) 169-171

ⓘ Robertsite

Formula: Ca₂Mn³⁺₃(PO₄)₃O₂ · 3H₂O

Description: Mitridatite-robertsite series.

References:

Rogers, Robert J., Brown, Francis H. (1979) Authigenic mitridatite from the Shungura Formation, southwestern Ethiopia. American Mineralogist, 64 (1-2) 169-171

ⓘ 'Smectite Group'

Formula: A_0.3D_2-3[T₄O₁₀]Z₂ · nH₂O

References:

Rogers, Robert J., Brown, Francis H. (1979) Authigenic mitridatite from the Shungura Formation, southwestern Ethiopia. American Mineralogist, 64 (1-2) 169-171

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 3 - Halides
ⓘ	Halite	3.AA.20	NaCl
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘ	Quartz	4.DA.05	SiO₂
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘ	Calcite	5.AB.05	CaCO₃
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘ	Gypsum	7.CD.40	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
ⓘ	Hydroxylapatite var. Carbonate-rich Hydroxylapatite	8.BN.05	Ca₅(PO₄,CO₃)₃(OH,O)
ⓘ		8.BN.05	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(OH)
ⓘ	Mitridatite	8.DH.30	Ca₂Fe³⁺₃(PO₄)₃O₂ · 3H₂O
ⓘ	Robertsite	8.DH.30	Ca₂Mn³⁺₃(PO₄)₃O₂ · 3H₂O
Unclassified
ⓘ	'Limonite'	-
ⓘ	'Smectite Group'	-	A_0.3D_2-3[T₄O₁₀]Z₂ · nH₂O

List of minerals for each chemical element

H	Hydrogen
H	ⓘ Hydroxylapatite var. Carbonate-rich Hydroxylapatite	Ca₅(PO₄,CO₃)₃(OH,O)
H	ⓘ Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
H	ⓘ Hydroxylapatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(OH)
H	ⓘ Mitridatite	Ca₂Fe₃³⁺(PO₄)₃O₂ · 3H₂O
H	ⓘ Robertsite	Ca₂Mn₃³⁺(PO₄)₃O₂ · 3H₂O
H	ⓘ Smectite Group	A_0.3D_2-3[T₄O₁₀]Z₂ · nH₂O
C	Carbon
C	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
C	ⓘ Hydroxylapatite var. Carbonate-rich Hydroxylapatite	Ca₅(PO₄,CO₃)₃(OH,O)
O	Oxygen
O	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
O	ⓘ Hydroxylapatite var. Carbonate-rich Hydroxylapatite	Ca₅(PO₄,CO₃)₃(OH,O)
O	ⓘ Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
O	ⓘ Hydroxylapatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(OH)
O	ⓘ Mitridatite	Ca₂Fe₃³⁺(PO₄)₃O₂ · 3H₂O
O	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
O	ⓘ Robertsite	Ca₂Mn₃³⁺(PO₄)₃O₂ · 3H₂O
O	ⓘ Smectite Group	A_0.3D_2-3[T₄O₁₀]Z₂ · nH₂O
Na	Sodium
Na	ⓘ Halite	NaCl
Si	Silicon
Si	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
P	Phosphorus
P	ⓘ Hydroxylapatite var. Carbonate-rich Hydroxylapatite	Ca₅(PO₄,CO₃)₃(OH,O)
P	ⓘ Hydroxylapatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(OH)
P	ⓘ Mitridatite	Ca₂Fe₃³⁺(PO₄)₃O₂ · 3H₂O
P	ⓘ Robertsite	Ca₂Mn₃³⁺(PO₄)₃O₂ · 3H₂O
S	Sulfur
S	ⓘ Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
Cl	Chlorine
Cl	ⓘ Halite	NaCl
Ca	Calcium
Ca	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
Ca	ⓘ Hydroxylapatite var. Carbonate-rich Hydroxylapatite	Ca₅(PO₄,CO₃)₃(OH,O)
Ca	ⓘ Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
Ca	ⓘ Hydroxylapatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(OH)
Ca	ⓘ Mitridatite	Ca₂Fe₃³⁺(PO₄)₃O₂ · 3H₂O
Ca	ⓘ Robertsite	Ca₂Mn₃³⁺(PO₄)₃O₂ · 3H₂O
Mn	Manganese
Mn	ⓘ Robertsite	Ca₂Mn₃³⁺(PO₄)₃O₂ · 3H₂O
Fe	Iron
Fe	ⓘ Mitridatite	Ca₂Fe₃³⁺(PO₄)₃O₂ · 3H₂O

Other Databases

Wikipedia:	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shungura_Formation
Wikidata ID:	Q16909696

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

AfricaContinent

African PlateTectonic Plate

North-Central Gregory Rift basinBasin

Arabian Plate

Arabian-Nubian Shield
- Haya TerraneVolcanic Arc

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

www.minsocam.org (n.d.) http://www.minsocam.org/ammin/AM64/AM64_169.pdf

Rogers, Robert J., Brown, Francis H. (1979) Authigenic mitridatite from the Shungura Formation, southwestern Ethiopia. American Mineralogist, 64 (1-2) 169-171

Quick NavTop Mineral List Other Databases Other Regions References

Mindat.org® is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Mindat® and mindat.org® are registered trademarks of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2026, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau.
Content on this site may not be used to train, fine-tune, or otherwise develop artificial intelligence or machine learning models without prior written permission - see our Terms & Conditions.
To cite: Ralph, J., Von Bargen, D., Martynov, P., Zhang, J., Que, X., Prabhu, A., Morrison, S. M., Li, W., Chen, W., & Ma, X. (2025). Mindat.org: The open access mineralogy database to accelerate data-intensive geoscience research. American Mineralogist, 110(6), 833–844. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9486.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: September 3, 2026 07:35:15 Page updated: August 5, 2025 18:39:32

Go to top of page