Debbie Woolf's Photo Gallery

Guido and Desmond Sacco

Guido Sacco an Italian geologist in the 1920's was searching for base metal prospects, he mapped and evaluated the manganese deposit on Gloucester farm. The young entrepreneur purchased the farm and secured the deposit for future mining. In 1928 Gloucester Manganese Mines (Postmasburg) Limited was formed.

Guido was instrumental in the restructuring of the manganese industry in the Griguland West region with his initiatives. By 1940 mineral rights where obtained on Black Rock and the adjoining farms N'Chwaning and Gloria, in the Kalahari manganese field. In 1970 N'Chwaning I mine was commissioned and the emergence and variety of beautiful minerals was discovered. [1 & 2]


Desmond Sacco qualified as a geologist and joined the ASSORE group in 1968. He was appointed to the Board in 1974 and, on the retirement of his father, Guido, in 1992, Des became the Chairman and Managing Director.

Des has an interest and passion in minerals, he supports numerous worthy causes and publications, raising public awareness of southern African minerals. [3]

[1] Cairncross, B., Beukes, N., Gutzmer, J. (1997) The Manganese Adventure – The South African Manganese Fields. Associated Ore & Metal Corporation Limited, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa.

[2] Cairncross, B., Beukes, N.J. (2013) The Kalahari Manganese Field, the adventure continues. Struik Nature Publishers, Cape Town, South Africa.

[3] Bruce Cairncross personal comment Feb, 2023.

LE4-P20Goethite α-Fe³⁺O(OH) , Pyrite FeS₂

Krantzberg Mine, Omaruru Constituency, Erongo Region, Namibia

Dimensions: 2.6 cm x 2.4 cm x 2.9 cm

Goethite psudeomorph after pyrite with 3 smaller penetrating crystals on individual faces. Identification by Peter Tandy at the NHM London. From my Ameib Farm collection and featured in Minerals & Gemstones of Southern Africa by Bruce Cairncross, Struik Nature publishers.

PN7-17PPyrophyllite Al₂Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂

Klein Spitzkopje granite stock, Spitzkopje Area, Dâures Constituency, Erongo Region, Namibia

Dimensions: 6.6 cm x 4 cm x 1.5 cm

Pearly, translucent blades of Pyrophyllite. From my Ameib Farm collection and featured in Minerals & Gemstones of Southern Africa by Bruce Cairncross, Struik Nature publishers.

Mining Rights Boundary

Sigma coalfield, Vereeniging - Sasolburg coalfields, Fezile Dabi District Municipality, Free State, South Africa

Defunct Mining Rights Boundary of the coalfield taken from: Sahris - Heritage Reports - SAS5250_NID_20181010

Free State Province Coalfields

Orange Free State coalfield, Free State, South Africa

Coal map locality and geology, modified from C.J. Vorster 2007.

Locality of the Coalfields

Vereeniging - Sasolburg coalfields, Fezile Dabi District Municipality, Free State, South Africa

Map taken from: Characterisation and beneficiation of coal from the New Vaal colliery, Sasolburg-Vereeniging Coalfield, South Africa, through the application of automated mineralogy by Donavan Johannes Pretorius, Thesis 2015. Courtesy of Bruce Cairncross.

Giorgio Garuti

Giorgio Garuti (garutiite)

Windhoek District near Aris

Windhoek Rural, Khomas Region, Namibia

Students on an outcrop in the Windhoek District south of Aris. Windhoekite is named after the district despite the misconception that it was named after the city.

Photo taken in 1999 when the area was known as Windhoek District which has since been renamed to Windhoek Rural courtesy of Bruce Cairncross.

Geology and Gold Mine Area

Mahikeng Local Municipality, Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, North West, South Africa

Overview of the geology known as the Kaaipan greenstone belt and goldfields located in this municipality taken from https://www.har.co.za/18/download/HAR-RR18.pdf