Alessandro Cantamessa's Photo Gallery

544-YQDQuartz (Var: Amethyst) SiO₂

Arcu di Monte Nieddu, Nuxis, South Sardinia Province, Sardinia, Italy

Dimensions: 110 mm x 60 mm x 50 mm

Unusual specimen of sardinian Amethyst bought at Cossato Mineral Fair, 2023, directly from the collector P. Grammatica.
Photo and collection Alessandro Cantamessa (#2369).

1F3-5WMPyrite FeS₂ , Quartz SiO₂ , Sphalerite ZnS , Calcite CaCO₃

Brad, Hunedoara County, Romania

Dimensions: 57 mm x 38 mm x 32 mm

"Awesome paragenesis"
Bright, striated cubic Pyrite crystals nestled among weakly smoked Quartz crystals, sided by pitch black Sphalerite crystals grown on tabular creamy Calcite crystals. Bought at Turin Mineral Fair, 2023.
Photo and collection Alessandro Cantamessa (#2420).

50V-JQAMuscovite KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂ , Sphalerite ZnS

Panasqueira Mines, Portugal

Dimensions: 98 mm x 54 mm x 50 mm

A dense, undamaged intertwining of Muscovite lamellae grown in rosettes, among which some dark Sphalerite crystals peek out. The specimen also features minor crystals of Fluorapatite and Pyrite, not visible in the photo. Bought at Turin Mineral Fair, 2023.
Photo and collection Alessandro Cantamessa (#2429).

P9R-84VAndradite (Var: Demantoid) Ca₃Fe³⁺₂(SiO₄)₃

Monte Pian Real, Villar Focchiardo, Metropolitan City of Turin, Piedmont, Italy

Dimensions: 45 mm x 40 mm x 38 mm

Gemmy Demantoid crystals, a specimen dating back to the 1980s, now unobtainable, result of personal research by the dealer L. Caletti and his late brother-in-law. Bought at Pino Torinese (To) Mineral Fair, 2023.
Photo and collection Alessandro Cantamessa (#2437).

J7L-98RDolomite CaMg(CO₃)₂ , Siderite FeCO₃

Villaret pit, Susville, Grenoble, Isère, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

Dimensions: 160 mm x 70 mm x 18 mm

"A French classic"
...as called another specimen, twin of this one, shown in this photo gallery.
White Dolomite rhombohedral crystals grown on a base of honey lenticular Siderite crystals ("Mesitite", according to an obsolete nomenclature). Bought at S. Maurizio Canavese (To) Mineral Fair, 2023.
Photo and collection Alessandro Cantamessa (#2436).

3HG-YNWGoethite α-Fe³⁺O(OH) , Pyrite FeS₂ , Limestone

Rocca Speron, San Lorenzo, Valdieri, Cuneo Province, Piedmont, Italy

Dimensions: 90 mm x 65 mm x 56 mm

Complex Pyrite crystals totally replaced by brown Goethite on limestone matrix. Bought at S. Maurizio Canavese (To) Mineral Fair, 2023.
Photo and collection Alessandro Cantamessa (#2435).

D5F-ADNPyrite FeS₂ , Magnetite Fe²⁺Fe³⁺₂O₄ , Talc Mg₃Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂

Brosso Mine, Calea, Lessolo, Metropolitan City of Turin, Piedmont, Italy

Dimensions: 95 mm x 75 mm x 50 mm

Pyrite crystals with unusual Magnetite crossing veins (dark) on talc mineral coming from Perariunda mining level. Bought at Turin Mineral Fair, 2023.
Photo and collection Alessandro Cantamessa (#2432).

739-CHKAxinite-(Fe) Ca₂Fe²⁺Al₂BSi₄O₁₅OH , Quartz SiO₂

Brunni Valley, Schächen Valley, Uri, Switzerland

Dimensions: 25 mm x 20 mm x 10 mm

Dark gemmy Axinite crystals tipically striated, with vitreous Quartz crystals. Bought at Martigny Mineral Fair, 2022.
Photo and collection Alessandro Cantamessa (#2311).

No drone required

Kreas Mine, Alagna Valsesia, Vercelli Province, Piedmont, Italy

No drone is required to take this quasi-aerial photo of the abandoned Kreas mining site, currently being adapted for tourist visits.
In fact all that is needed is to take the path going up from Piedimonte to Alpe Campo, with its spectacular view of the southern face of the Monte Rosa massif.
Photo Alessandro Cantamessa 2023

YW2-VULValentinite Sb₂O₃ , Cervantite Sb³⁺Sb⁵⁺O₄ , Stibiconite Sb³⁺Sb⁵⁺₂O₆(OH) , Stibnite Sb₂S₃

Poggio Peloso, Civitella Paganico, Grosseto Province, Tuscany, Italy

Field of View: 70 mm

Lamellar pseudohexagonal dull yellow opaque Valentinite crystals (see at the high left of the image) with small yellow thin rayed aciculars Cervantite crystals (to the right of Valentinite, in the center of the image) and dirty yellow Stibiconite encrusting gray metallic Stibnite needles. Bought at Turin Mineral Fair, 2023.
Photo and collection Alessandro Cantamessa (#2425).