Abstract 2026
Rivista Mineralogica Italiana > Abstract Articoli
Abstract ITALIAN MINERALOGICAL MAGAZINE nr. 1-2026 | ||||||
CHALCOPYRITE FROM TAVAGNASCO (TORINO, PIEDMONT, ITALY)  | This paper retraces the geological, mining, and collecting history of chalcopyrite from Tavagnasco (Pied- mont, Italy), one of the most significant localities in the Eastern Graian Alps for the study of sulfides. After a general introduction to chalcopyrite and the historical importance of cop- per, the geological framework of the area is outlined, placing Tavagnasco within the Sesia-Lanzo Zone of thWestern Alps, characterized by highgrade metamorphic rocks affected by Oligocene intrusions and a com- plex network of hydrothermal veins. The Tavagnasco mineralization is interpreted as a contact-type sulfide deposit, with a mineral assemblage dominated by chalcopyrite, pyrite, sphalerite, and galena, associated with quartz and carbonate minerals. Considerable attention is devoted to the historical context, from probable Roman-age mining activities to in- dustrial exploitation during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The paper also describes the modern “rediscov- ery” of the site beginning in 1983 and highlights the exceptional aesthetic quality of the chalcopyrite crystals, now regarded as among the finest from the Italian Alps, emphasizing the current scientific and historical significance of the Tavagnasco min- ing district. | |||||
THE MONTE VACCAREGGIO MINE (DOSSENA, BERGAMO PROVINCE, LOMBARDY, ITALY): NEW IDENTIFICATIONS FROM THE GORNO MINING DISTRICT  | The Monte Vaccareggio mine is lo- cated in the municipality of Dossena (BG), but, unlike the nearby Paglio Pignolino mining site, it has never gained significant attention in the mineralogical context of the Orobic Alps. In this contribution, the geolo- gy and mineralogy of this interesting deposit are detailed. This research allowed the collection of excellent spec- imens of pyromorphite, among the most beautiful found in Lombardy, as well as corkite, hinsdalite, rosasite, and linarite. Other notable mineral spe- cies identified at this locality include doyleite, fraipontite, hydrocerussite, kintoreite, and plancheite. In general, the Monte Vaccareggio mine exhibits distinctive geological features that set it apart from other mines in the Gorno district, such as the presence of phosphate lenses and a massive cop- per silicate mineralization (chrysocolla and plancheite) as well as Zn and Al minerals (fraipontite and doyleite). | |||||
THE LUNA PEGMATITIC DYKE (DORIO, LC): NEW MINERALOGICAL DATA  | The occurrence of four mineral species previously not reported from the Luna pegmatitic dyke (Dorio, Lecco Province, Lombardy) is here described, i.e.,graphite, graftonite, monazite-(Ce),and whiteite-(CaMnMn). Graphiteoccurs as greasy dark-grey tiny masses, often formed by aggregates of mm-sized spheres. Its identificationis based on qualitative chemical dataonly. Graftonite, the Fe-richest member of the graftonite group, occurs as honey-brown to greenish-brown, cm-sized, masses. It is worth noting that all previously analyzed samples labeled as “graftonite” actually corresponded to graftonite-(Ca). On the contrary, the studied sample from the Luna pegmatitic dyke has the empirical chemical formula (Fe0.90Ca(PO3.99)2, thus corresponding to graftonite. This is the first identification of graftonite from the Piona pegmatitic swarm. Monazite-(Ce) occurs as equant monoclinic green crystals within hydro- thermal cavities of the pegmatite. Its chemical formula is characterized by high U contents. Both morphological and chemical features of monazite-(Ce) from the Luna dyke are similar to those of the samples collected in the Olgias- ca-Malpensata occurrence. Finally, whiteite-(CaMnMn) forms yellowish prismatic crystals, less than 1 mm in size, in hydrothermal cavities. | |||||
AN HISTORICAL SPECIMEN OF DIOPSIDE FROM TESTA CIARVA (ALA VALLEY, PIEDMONT, ITALY)  | An historical specimen of diopside from the classic locality of Testa Ciar- va (Ala Valley, Piedmont, Italy) has been recently added to the collection of one of the authors of this paper (A.M.) and its history has been reconstructed. Indeed, the specimen was il- lustrated in a paper published in 1920 and dealing with the morphological crystallography of diopside. Probably, the specimen was originally collected by Johannes Strüver (1842-1915) at the end of the 1860s. Later, it be- longed to the Castagneri collection and was then acquired by Ferdinand Pierre-Joseph Gonnard (1838-1923) who donated it to the collection of the Faculty of Science of Lyon (France). In recent times, it belonged first to the Eric Asselborn collection and then to Tiziano Bonisoli, who sold it in 2023. | |||||
MUSEUM OF NATURE AND HUMANKIND, PADUA. THE “A. GUASTONI” MINERALOGICAL SECTION  | An historical specimen of diopside from the classic locality of Testa Ciar- va (Ala Valley, Piedmont, Italy) has been recently added to the collection of one of the authors of this paper (A.M.) and its history has been recon-structed. Indeed, the specimen was il- lustrated in a paper published in 1920 and dealing with the morphological crystallography of diopside. Probably, the specimen was originally collected by Johannes Strüver (1842-1915) at the end of the 1860s. Later, it be- longed to the Castagneri collection and was then acquired by Ferdinand Pierre-Joseph Gonnard (1838-1923) who donated it to the collection of the Faculty of Science of Lyon (France). In recent times, it belonged first to the Eric Asselborn collection and then to Tiziano Bonisoli, who sold it in 2023. | |||||
Abstract ITALIAN MINERALOGICAL MAGAZINE nr. 2-2026 | ||||||
EPIDOTE – THE SPECIMENS FROM EASTERN LIGURIA (ITALY)  | The occurrence of epidote from Eastern Liguria has been known since, at least, the end of the 19th century. However, only since the 1960s, mineral collectors have begun to collect mineral specimens from the Cassagna mine (Graveglia Valley, Genoa Province). Epidote is hosted within veins cutting pillow lavas of basaltic composition. The most important localities are the following ones: i) Bonassola and Framura (La Spezia Province): epidote vein systems are very common but mineral specimens are of low quality. Crystal size is usually very small, even if crystals are very shiny. ii) Bracco Pass (La Spezia and Genoa Provinces): epidote forms low-quality specimens, of local interest only. iii) Bargone, Campegli, and Masso (Petronio Valley, Genoa Province): among the most important localities, the farm road between Bargone and Maissana has to be remembered. From this area, aesthetic druses of dark and shiny epidote crystals, up to 0.5 cm in size, associated with calcite, prehnite, “pumpellyite”, and quartz, were collected. Other findings were performed at Barche (or Pian delle Barche), in association with quartz, and on the slopes of Monte Tregin. At the end of the 1970s, epidote was collected at the Sant’Elena quarry, in dark green and shiny crystals, up to 0.5 cm across, associated with quartz; pluricentimetric druses of dark green crystals, up to more than 5 mm, were collected at the Sant’Elena mine (known also as Campegli mine). Epidote veins were identified close to San Pietro Frascati, and interesting radial aggregates were observed on the slope of Monte Pù, following a small landslide. Small epidote crystals were also found in the Acquafredda quarry, near Masso, and along the Frascarese stream. iv) Zeri, Pontelagoscuro, Gambatesa, and the right bank of the Graveglia stream (Genoa Province): epidote vein systems near Zerli were the first to be sampled by mineral collectors during the 1970s, thanks to the road construction. In the following years, other nice specimens of epidote were collected at Pontelagoscuro, where nice specimens with epidote and quartz crystals were discovered. Small epidote crystals were observed in basalts cropping out in the abandoned quarry of Monte Comarella, above the Gambatesa mine, and small crystals were also collected in the underground workings of this latter locality. Finally, the specimens of epidote from Arzeno, Monte Biscia, and Monte Chiappozzo, have a negligible interest. v) Molana quarry, Molinello, Nascio, Morella, Cassagna, and the left bank of the Graveglia stream (Genoa Province): small crystals of epidote are known from the now-abandoned Molana quarry. Some other speci- mens were found in the upper stopes of the Molinello mine, near the con- tact between the Diaspri and Basalts formations. Similar veins were later found in the Costa Morella, near Nascio. Here, in 2001, a cavity of 1 × 1 × 0.2 m in size was found and it provides a large number of good specimens of epidote and quartz. Other findings have been performed around the small hamlet of Nascio, where crystals up to 1 cm have been collected, in association with quartz, sometimes in crystals up to 10 cm. Small crystals of epidote are known from the Cassagna mine, Monte Bianco, and Statale. Crystals up to 3 mm are known in the Monte Capra area. vi) Monte Aiona, Sturla Valley and Aveto Valley (Genoa Province): on the slopes of Monte Aiona there are small crystals of dark green epidote, associated with quartz, “adularia”, prehnite, albite, and “pumpellyite”. In the Sturla Valley, epidote was found in an old abandoned quarry near Squazza, as small dark green crystals, associated with calcite, quartz, and “adularia”. Other small crystals have been collect- ed in the valley behind the Abbazia di Borzone. Finally, in the Aveto Valley, there are some localities where epi- dote can be found in association with quartz and prehnite. | |||||
MINERALS FROM THE RIO DEI RONCHI (CIME BIANCHE DI TELVES, VIPITENO, BZ)  | In the Italian Alps, about 15 km southeast of the Brenner Pass, along the southern slope of the Cime Bi- anche di Telves-Telfer Weißen (Ridanna-Ridnaun Valley, Vipiteno-Sterzing, Bolzano-Bozen, Italy), just east of the much better known mining district of Monteneve-Schneeberg, there are documented similar lead-zinc de- posits that were mined for silver-bear- ing galena between the end of the 15th century and the end of the 18 cen- tury. The presence of still clearly visi- ble mining waste dumps near the Rio dei Ronchi-Runggenbach and their relative ease of access facilitated the mineralogical sampling. The mineralization is represented by a complex polymetallic occurrence of Zn, Pb, Ag, Cu, Fe, Sb, As, Co, Ni, Bi, and Au, with dominant sphalerite, gale- na, pyrrhotite, and chalcopyrite; this ore deposit is interpreted as a VMS, hosted in the Ötztal-Breonie fault of the Australpine Metamorphic Basement. This tectonic unit is represented by sandy and clayey protoliths,metamorphosed into biotite-muscovite paragneisses, with intercalated quartzite-muscovite orthogneisses, amphibolites, amphibolite gneisses.In addition, there are quartzite-muscovite graphitic micaschists, sometimes garnet-bearing. The latter, sometimes accompanied by graphitic black schists or carbonate facies, are associated with the sulfide ore deposits that are the target of the mining activity. In addition to the species constituting the primary mineralization already described in the scientific literature of the 1970s and 1980s, several supergene minerals, some of which are quite rare, have been documented in recent years, bringing the total number of identified species to about 70. There are three new reports for the Trentino-Alto Adige region (descloizite: black, shiny, lanceolate crystals with dark brown reflections; glaucodote: pseudocubic crystals with a metallic lustre, gray-yellowish; spangolite: light blue or, more rarely, green tabular crystals) and nine for the province of Bolzano [beaverite-(Cu): very shiny microcrystalline crusts ranging from yellow to reddish-brown; bindheimite: poorly formed crystalline aggregates or minute lamellar or acicular crystals with a greasy lustre; brianyoungite: milky crusts or, rarely, very pale yellow globules; caledonite: prismatic crystals grouped in blue spherules or radiating aggregates; duftite: apple green crusts covering cerussite crystals; namuwite: light blue rosettes consisting of minute pseudohexagonal crystals; rams- beckite: dark green to blue crystals, very shiny, squat and pseudocubic, or with a typical rhombic outline; schu- lenbergite: blue-green, lamellar crystals with a pseudohexagonal outline grouped in parallel clusters; valent- inite: colorless or pale yellow crystals, rarely single, often in aggregates of a few individuals or in elegant fans]. Among the most common species forming nice micromount specimens, one can remember the following ones: linarite, in shiny prismatic crystals of electric blue color often associated with brochantite (very shiny bottle green crystals), anglesite (crystals with highly variable morphology, mainly prismatic with chisel or tabular termi- nation), cerussite (white crystals usually elongated or in stocky, striated individuals, sometimes in characteristic V-shaped twins); aurichalcite, in white to light blue spherules or mammillary aggregates, often associated with hemimorphite (clear, colorless, flattened or lanceolate crystals, often grouped in rosettes or densely clus- tered to form spherules) and smithsonite (rounded crystals or aggregates in sheaves, ranging from pure white to yellow-brownish); finally, langite, in light blue lamellar or stocky crystals with a pseudocubic habit, and theisite, represented by green globular aggregates. | |||||
VANADINITE: A NEW FINDING FROM THE LAMA DELLO SPEDALACCIO (MS)  | The area close to the small village of Sassalbo and the Ospedalaccio Pass (Fivizzano, Massa-Carrara Province, Tuscany, Italy) is known for the presence of some mineral occurrences, related to Triassic evaporites and to Variscan metamorphic rocks. Less known is the presence of a galena mineralization hosted in the Macigno Formation. in the southern slope of Monte Alto and known since the beginning of the 1980s. In September 2010, a field sampling aiming at collecting specimens of galena allowed the first discovery of small crystal aggregates of vanadinite in small vugs of calcite veins. Several years later, further research performed along the Acqua Torbida stream improved the knowledge about the mineralogy of the area. Calcite veins rarely hosted sulfideminerals, represented by chalcopyrite, galena and pyrite. The latter is usually deeply oxidized and replaced by goethite. Chalcopyrite forms crystalline masses, up to 1.5 cm, sometimes associated with malachite. Galena occurs as cubic crystals, usually embedded in calcite and only very rarely free in small vugs of calcite veins. They are usually coated with cerussite crystals, and they are often associated with small needles of orange-reddish vanadinite. This latter mineral occurs also in prismatic hexagonal crystals, less than 1 mm in length. Their unitcell parameters are a = 10.302(2), c = 7.365(2) Å, V = 676.9(3) Å3 and the empirical chemical formula ca be written as Pb [(VAs )O ] Cl. | |||||
Abstract ITALIAN MINERALOGICAL MAGAZINE nr. 3-2026 | ||||||
Abstract ITALIAN MINERALOGICAL MAGAZINE nr. 4-2026 | ||||||
