登录注册
Quick Links : Mindat手册The Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryMindat Newsletter [Free Download]
主页关于 MindatMindat手册Mindat的历史版权Who We Are联系我们于 Mindat.org刊登广告
捐赠给 MindatCorporate Sponsorship赞助板页已赞助的板页在 Mindat刊登 广告的广告商于 Mindat.org刊登广告
Learning CenterWhat is a mineral?The most common minerals on earthInformation for EducatorsMindat ArticlesThe ElementsThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryGeologic Time
搜索矿物的性质搜索矿物的化学Advanced Locality Search随意显示任何一 种矿物Random Locality使用minID搜索邻近产地Search Articles搜索词汇表更多搜索选项
搜索:
矿物名称:
地区产地名称:
关键字:
 
Mindat手册添加新照片Rate Photos产区编辑报告Coordinate Completion Report添加词汇表项目
Mining Companies统计会员列表Mineral MuseumsClubs & Organizations矿物展及活动The Mindat目录表设备设置The Mineral Quiz
照片搜索Photo GalleriesSearch by Color今天最新的照片昨天最新的照片用户照片相集过去每日精选照片相集Photography

LocalitiesCuasso al Monte, Varese Province, Lombardy, Italy

20th Apr 2011 03:46 UTCSteve Stuart Expert

I obtained a micromount at the 2011 Rochester Mineralogical Symposium labeled as bastnaesite from Blanchi Quarry, Cuasso al Monte, Varese Province, Lombardy, Italy. The Blanchi Quarry is not listed in MinDat as a sub-

locality of Cuasso al Monte. Are any of our Italian micromounters familiar with the Blanchi Quarry?


Thanks,


Steve Stuart

20th Apr 2011 06:17 UTCMickey Marks

Correct spelling is Bianchi with an i, not Blanchi with an l. It's listed in Mindat.

20th Apr 2011 13:03 UTCUwe Kolitsch Manager

"It's listed in Mindat."

No, not yet (there is ony a Bianchi quarry in California).


Another photo also shows a specimen from this quarry:

http://www.mindat.org/photo-342446.html

20th Apr 2011 13:17 UTCUwe Kolitsch Manager

According to http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuasso_al_Monte

"... Cava Bianchi (in seguito Mantegazza)" Bianchi quarry is a former name of the Mantegazza quarry.

20th Apr 2011 22:07 UTCMickey Marks

I stand corrected, but I knew there was some connection to the quarry in Lombardy. I didn't realize that the name was outdated.

21st Apr 2011 02:45 UTCSteve Stuart Expert

I'll correct the spelling to Bianchi on my label and catalog. Here is the Mindat link for the Mantegazza Quarry:


http://www.mindat.org/loc-73163.html


Apparently, it's known by a different name now! Perhaps Domenic Preite or some else familiar with the quarries can add Bianchi to the locality string and also add bastnaesite to the minerals list if it can be supported by a reference.


I'm having trouble with dirt in my camera that leaves ugly tracks in my stacked images, so I cannot post an image of the bastnaesite. It shows brick red hexagonal prisms, very much like:


http://www.mindat.org/photo-121846.html and


http://www.mindat.org/photo-236049.html .


Thanks,


Steve

21st Apr 2011 09:59 UTCLuca Baralis Expert

Steve Stuart Scritto:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Apparently, it's known by a different name now!


Yes, it is now Gebel quarry. However I think the most know it as Mantegazza quarry, or with the older name Bianchi quarry.

In the time, just after 1st WW, it (probably) was Sioli quarry.

Usually, names are taken from the owner or the operator of the quarry, so often they may change in the time... then many quarries get also a name from the site of exploitation, and that is reported on official papers. It can be quite messy.


Luca

21st Apr 2011 11:19 UTCUwe Kolitsch Manager

Updated.

18th May 2012 02:40 UTCSteve Stuart Expert

03268820016031207389069.jpg
Another Cuasso al Monte question- while breaking up and exploring some rough material from this locality, I found two interesting yellow unknowns. See images below:



00868290015998334443928.jpg



The first one shows very small sprays of acicular crystals. My first guess is mimetite, but would like to hear from other collectors of specimens from these quarries. Are there other possible IDs?


I'm not sure that the second image shows mimetite. The habits seems to be different than the first image. Any opinions?


Thanks and regards,


Steve

18th May 2012 09:42 UTCAntonio Gamboni Expert

From the color and appearance seems "uranophane".

If it was a uranium ore the doubt remains among "uranophane" and weeksite.

If he were not a uranium ore could then be vanadinite.

Is still very difficult to give definite answers only for a photo, even knowing all the minerals hitherto found in Cuasso

Best Regards.

18th May 2012 18:19 UTCSteve Stuart Expert

I'll check for radioactivity.

18th May 2012 21:11 UTCUwe Kolitsch Manager

Is it fluorescent?

19th May 2012 00:36 UTCSteve Stuart Expert

No observable fluorescence under LW, MW or SW UV light. My 15-year old Russian digital Geiger counter won't turn on now, so I cannot test for radioactivity. The battery is good, but I did notice that the on-off switch balked a few times recently; now, "no mas"!

22nd May 2012 08:46 UTCDomenico Preite Expert

Anycase Steve this xx's are unusual for Cuasso al Monte, I hope that is possible to analyze!!!

16th Jun 2012 15:45 UTCSteve Stuart Expert

04891010016031207387762.jpg
I've been exploring Cuasso al Monte via Google Earth and found these quarries near the town. Can anyone match these up with the quarries listed on Mindat: Bonomi quarry, Val Cavallizza mine, Gebel Quarry (Mantegazza Quarry; Bianchi Quarry), Laghetto Quarry, and Puricelli quarry. I also have a specimen from Cuasso al Monte attributed to "Cava Tourmaline". I have seen references to it in the literature on Cuasso al Monte, but Mindat does not list it unless it's under another name.




Thanks!


Steve Stuart

16th Jun 2012 19:30 UTCLuca Baralis Expert

Bonomi is the active quarry S-E in the picture. I think (not sure) the Gebel Quarry is the active one north of the Bonomi.

Laghetto (=little lake) quarry is at est of the village - that's Cavagnano. You can see the lake. I think it's not an official name, but it is normally used by collectors.

Cava tormaline alias Tourmaline quarry (also a non official name) is S-W outside of the picture. I think It cannot be seen on Google Earth as nowadays it is only a stony landfill covered by bushes.

Puricelli quarry is otside of the picture too, N of the laghetto quarry.

16th Jun 2012 20:18 UTCSteve Stuart Expert

05859010016031207388215.jpg
Found the Strahlen.org web site for Cuasso al Monte:


http://www.strahlen.org/vp/it/cuassoalmonte/


The SE quarry is Bonomi. The center quarry is Puricelli. The abandoned quarry NE of Puricelli is Laghetto. This information is provided by Domenico Preite. Still cannot place the Gebel quarry, not Cava Toumaline on Google Earth yet.




Note that this image locates the Gebel on the same site as Puricelli. Still needs more clarity!


Thanks,


Steve

16th Jun 2012 22:16 UTCLuca Baralis Expert

I'm quite sure that the Puricelli sign on the picture should be wrong.

That is the Gebel quarry (references: S. Mercadante, I minerali di cava Bonomi. Gr. Ed. L'Espresso, 2011. map on page 14).

Some times ago there where problems 'cause collectors made rocks fall down on the houses downside the Puricelli quarry. It surely cannot happen in that site!

I know as Puricelli quarry an old abandoned quarry north of Laghetto quarry, upstream (north of the road Cuasso - Cavagnano, see on google Earth).

17th Jun 2012 00:17 UTCSteve Stuart Expert

Mr. Mercadante posted an article on Mindat, accessible from the Bonomi quarry page that agrees with your point, Luca. So, I will modify the Google Earth image to move the Puricelli icon somewhere else. I'll follow your directions to see if I can spot it on Google Earth. Would it be possible to scan the map and send it to me, or attach it here (without violating copyright laws)?


Regards,


Steve

17th Jun 2012 00:23 UTCSteve Stuart Expert

06701950016031207381692.jpg



I have put the Puricelli icon in an area of rocky outcrops north of the Laghetto quarry, as Luca describes. Is one of these outcrops the old quarry?


Steve

17th Jun 2012 08:27 UTCLuca Baralis Expert

The picture is right now, I think. I read that Puricelli quarry is "in front of the school of Cavagnano" (the L-shaped building just north of Laghetto quarry) but I remember a landfill some hundred meters north, and there you can see rocks on Google Earth.

However, here is what I remember of the trip I made there two years ago.

Tourmaline quarry mark is only indicative of the area as I can't recognize it by the map.

19th Jun 2012 01:06 UTCSteve Stuart Expert

I created a .kml file in Google Earth with links to the appropriate Mindat locality page. Just click on an icon, then on the Mindat link. I cannot attach it to this forum. Anyone know how to share it on Mindat? Otherwise send me a PM with your e-mail and I'll send the .kml file to you.


Steve

5th Jul 2012 03:29 UTCSteve Stuart Expert

Can basnaesite-(Ce), synchysite-(Ce) and synchysite-(Y) from Cuasso al Monte be visually identified? My review of the Mindat gallery for these three minerals tells me "probably not", but I would value opinions from others who have examined much more material from these quarries than I have. I see similar colors and habits for all three minerals.


Thanks!


Steve

23rd Jul 2012 17:06 UTCDomenico Preite Expert

To determine bastnaesite-(Ce) instead variuos "sysnchysite'S" is to complicate i provide you this SEM photo

(from AMI Db-AMI) to explain bastnaesite-(Ce) is intermedium prism large corredated by two "synchysite" on the margin

I repeat the exagonal extern are "synchysite" and intermediate crystal is bastnaesite-(Ce)....


My opinion is that is sure not sure the identification between synchysite-(Ce) and synchysite-(Y), in a recent conference in Bergamo Dr.Pietro Vignola of Milan university (after analysis) said that synchysite-(Ce) and synchysite-(Y) are present but synchysite-(Y) is very rare respect synchysite-(Ce) that is te term common.

http://dbami.amiminerals.it/lfm/viewer.php?albid=66&stage=3&imgid=2593

http://dbami.amiminerals.it/lfm/viewer.php?albid=66&stage=3&imgid=2644

Now in the follow message I can try to insert a photo to explain using colours..

23rd Jul 2012 17:14 UTCDomenico Preite Expert

Here good Matteo Chinellato photo that show the bastnaesite-(Ce) (honey yellow)in the center

of two synchysite-(Ce) (cream colour)

http://www.mindat.org/photo-342435.html

and again this photo to show a double sandwich...!!!

http://www.mindat.org/photo-330009.html

Ciao Steve...

24th Jul 2012 01:13 UTCSteve Stuart Expert

00993100014977525015053.jpg
Wonderful SEM images! Thanks for the link.


Here are some 2 mm images I recently made. Any opinions as to ID? I will withdraw the bastaesite ID based on Domenico's comments.



05607960015998334449348.jpg


06852330015998334443562.jpg



Regards,


Steve

26th Jul 2012 15:25 UTCDomenico Preite Expert

1) for me synchysiste-(Ce)

2) for me synchysiste-(Ce) but need accurate analysis because some samples may be synchysiste-(Y)

3) not clear photo!!

Ciao

11th Apr 2021 13:01 UTCPaolo Giovanni Biffi

Sorry not really a reply but a new item be discussed. Only recently I saw the comment posted at the and of the page, which I report here in brackets

"...Warning: In very recent times some oustanding crystals of amethyst, a classic and highly sought mineral from the former Bianchi quarry (presently Gebel), attributed to an obscure find in the area of Cuasso al Monte, appeared on the market. Although these crystals, whose origin is Brandberg (Namibia), are very similar in morphology and habit to the authentic ones, some features (constant absence of dull faces, high abundance of double-terminated crystals, absence among the associated minerals of pink orthoclase, fluorite, dolomite and siderite, etc.) allow to distinguish them from those of Cuasso al Monte (Guastoni & Gentile, 2016).  ..."

A more recent article appeared in LAPIS (probably in 2017, but all of us can check and be more precise if needed) clearly documented with sample and in situ pictures that the so called "
obscure find in the area of Cuasso al Monte" was indeed an outstanding finding done at the Gebel Quarry (ex Mantegazza, ex Bianchi), approximately in 2009 (on my memory but the quoted article is maybe more precise) during one of the last period of activity of the quarry.

As it is well known that at least implicitly , reference was indeed made to such finding, I suggest and ask the staff of Mindat to remove the mentioned "Warning", in order to avoid that unchecked news are divulgated.

11th Apr 2021 13:21 UTCPaolo Giovanni Biffi

LAPIS 2\2018 p.12 and following
 

12th Apr 2021 16:23 UTCPaolo Bosio

Reference (Miglioli & Weiß, 2018) added, "Warning" removed and text edited accordingly.

14th Apr 2021 17:04 UTCLuca Baralis Expert

Are we sure that warning is unnecessary?
What I read in it is that on the market  you can find real Cuasso al Monte amethysts as well as some (good) fake from Brandeberg .
 
矿物 and/or 产地  
Mindat Discussions Facebook Logo Instagram Logo Discord Logo
版权所有© mindat.org1993年至2024年,除了规定的地方。 Mindat.org全赖于全球数千个以上成员和支持者们的参与。
隐私政策 - 条款和条款细则 - 联络我们 - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: 2024.3.28 08:40:06
Go to top of page