Fe and Cu mineral outcrops in karstic cave mined in prehistoric times.

Grotta della Monaca, located in the upper Esaro Valley (on Esaro River hydrographic left) at an elevation of 600 m asl, is a large cave system composed of galleries, chambers and narrow passages having an overall extension of about 400 metres. The cave has been divided into three main sectors: the "Pregrotta", a wide entrance gallery; the so-called "Sala dei pipistrelli", a huge chamber in the middle of the cave system; the "Cunicoli terminali", a series of low and narrow final passages.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List

15 valid minerals.

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Aragonite

Formula: CaCO₃

References:

Garavelli, A., Larocca, F., Levato, C., and Pinto, D. (2012) Prehistoric mines of the Upper Esaro Valley (Calabria, Italy). In: Anreiter, P., et al., (eds.), (2012), The Impact of Historic and Prehistoric Mining Activities on the Environment and Societies in Europe. 2nd Mining in European History Conference. Special Conference of the FZ HiMAT, Innsbruck, 7.–10. November 2012. Conference Guide. Innsbruck University Press, Posters, Section I-IV, 93.

ⓘ Azurite

Formula: Cu₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂

References:

Larocca, F., (ed.), (2005): La miniera pre-protostorica di Grotta della Monaca (Sant’Agata di Esaro, Cosenza). Centro Regionale di Speleologia “Enzo dei Medici“, Roseto Capo Spulico, 98 pp.

Geniola, A., Larocca, F., and Vurro, F. (2006) Approvvigionamento di risorse minerarie nella Grotta della Monaca (Sant’Agata di Esaro - Cosenza). In: Cocchi Genick, D., (ed.), (2006), Materie prime e scambi nella preistoria italiana. Atti della XXXIX Riunione Scientifica dell’Istituto Italiano di Preistoria e Protostoria, Firenze, 25-27 novembre 2004. Istituto Italiano di Preistoria e Protostoria, Firenze, vol. III, 1349-1359.

ⓘ Brochantite

Formula: Cu₄(SO₄)(OH)₆

References:

Larocca, F. (2012) Grotta della Monaca (Calabria, Italia Meridionale): Una miniera neolitica per l’estrazione dell’ocra. In: Borrell, M., et al., (eds.), (2012), Xarxes al Neolític. Circulació i intercanvi de materiès, productes i idees a la Mediterrània occidental (VII-III millenni aC). Actes Congrés Internacional, Gavà/Bellaterra, 2-4 febrer 2011. Rubricatum, 5, 249-256.

ⓘ Calcite

Formula: CaCO₃

References:

ⓘ Dolomite

Formula: CaMg(CO₃)₂

References:

ⓘ Goethite

Formula: α-Fe³⁺O(OH)

References:

Larocca, F., (ed.), (2005): La miniera pre-protostorica di Grotta della Monaca (Sant’Agata di Esaro, Cosenza). Centro Regionale di Speleologia “Enzo dei Medici“, Roseto Capo Spulico, 98 pp.

ⓘ Gypsum

Formula: CaSO₄ · 2H₂O

References:

ⓘ Hematite

Formula: Fe₂O₃

References:

ⓘ Hydroxylapatite

Formula: Ca₅(PO₄)₃(OH)

References:

ⓘ Lepidocrocite

Formula: γ-Fe³⁺O(OH)

References:

ⓘ Libethenite

Formula: Cu₂(PO₄)(OH)

References:

ⓘ 'Limonite'

References:

ⓘ Malachite

Formula: Cu₂(CO₃)(OH)₂

References:

Larocca, F., (ed.), (2005): La miniera pre-protostorica di Grotta della Monaca (Sant’Agata di Esaro, Cosenza). Centro Regionale di Speleologia “Enzo dei Medici“, Roseto Capo Spulico, 98 pp.

ⓘ Sampleite

Formula: NaCaCu₅(PO₄)₄Cl · 5H₂O

References:

ⓘ Scorodite

Formula: Fe³⁺AsO₄ · 2H₂O

References:

Garavelli, A., Pinto, D., Vurro, F., Mellini, F., Viti, C., Balić-Žunić, T., and Della Ventura, G. (2009) Yukonite from the Grotta della Monaca cave, Sant’Agata di Esaro, Italy: characterization and comparison with cotype material from the Daulton mine, Yukon, Canada. Canadian Mineralogist, 47, 39-51.

ⓘ Yukonite

Formula: Ca₃Fe³⁺(AsO₄)₂(OH)₃ · 5H₂O

References:

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘ	Goethite	4.00.	α-Fe³⁺O(OH)
ⓘ	Hematite	4.CB.05	Fe₂O₃
ⓘ	Lepidocrocite	4.FE.15	γ-Fe³⁺O(OH)
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘ	Calcite	5.AB.05	CaCO₃
ⓘ	Dolomite	5.AB.10	CaMg(CO₃)₂
ⓘ	Aragonite	5.AB.15	CaCO₃
ⓘ	Azurite	5.BA.05	Cu₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂
ⓘ	Malachite	5.BA.10	Cu₂(CO₃)(OH)₂
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘ	Brochantite	7.BB.25	Cu₄(SO₄)(OH)₆
ⓘ	Gypsum	7.CD.40	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
ⓘ	Libethenite	8.BB.30	Cu₂(PO₄)(OH)
ⓘ	Hydroxylapatite	8.BN.05	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(OH)
ⓘ	Scorodite	8.CD.10	Fe³⁺AsO₄ · 2H₂O
ⓘ	Sampleite	8.DG.05	NaCaCu₅(PO₄)₄Cl · 5H₂O
ⓘ	Yukonite	8.DM.25	Ca₃Fe³⁺(AsO₄)₂(OH)₃ · 5H₂O
Unclassified
ⓘ	'Limonite'	-

List of minerals for each chemical element

H	Hydrogen
H	ⓘ Azurite	Cu₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂
H	ⓘ Brochantite	Cu₄(SO₄)(OH)₆
H	ⓘ Goethite	α-Fe³⁺O(OH)
H	ⓘ Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
H	ⓘ Hydroxylapatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(OH)
H	ⓘ Lepidocrocite	γ-Fe³⁺O(OH)
H	ⓘ Libethenite	Cu₂(PO₄)(OH)
H	ⓘ Malachite	Cu₂(CO₃)(OH)₂
H	ⓘ Sampleite	NaCaCu₅(PO₄)₄Cl · 5H₂O
H	ⓘ Scorodite	Fe³⁺AsO₄ · 2H₂O
H	ⓘ Yukonite	Ca₃Fe³⁺(AsO₄)₂(OH)₃ · 5H₂O
C	Carbon
C	ⓘ Aragonite	CaCO₃
C	ⓘ Azurite	Cu₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂
C	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
C	ⓘ Dolomite	CaMg(CO₃)₂
C	ⓘ Malachite	Cu₂(CO₃)(OH)₂
O	Oxygen
O	ⓘ Aragonite	CaCO₃
O	ⓘ Azurite	Cu₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂
O	ⓘ Brochantite	Cu₄(SO₄)(OH)₆
O	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
O	ⓘ Dolomite	CaMg(CO₃)₂
O	ⓘ Goethite	α-Fe³⁺O(OH)
O	ⓘ Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
O	ⓘ Hematite	Fe₂O₃
O	ⓘ Hydroxylapatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(OH)
O	ⓘ Lepidocrocite	γ-Fe³⁺O(OH)
O	ⓘ Libethenite	Cu₂(PO₄)(OH)
O	ⓘ Malachite	Cu₂(CO₃)(OH)₂
O	ⓘ Sampleite	NaCaCu₅(PO₄)₄Cl · 5H₂O
O	ⓘ Scorodite	Fe³⁺AsO₄ · 2H₂O
O	ⓘ Yukonite	Ca₃Fe³⁺(AsO₄)₂(OH)₃ · 5H₂O
Na	Sodium
Na	ⓘ Sampleite	NaCaCu₅(PO₄)₄Cl · 5H₂O
Mg	Magnesium
Mg	ⓘ Dolomite	CaMg(CO₃)₂
P	Phosphorus
P	ⓘ Hydroxylapatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(OH)
P	ⓘ Libethenite	Cu₂(PO₄)(OH)
P	ⓘ Sampleite	NaCaCu₅(PO₄)₄Cl · 5H₂O
S	Sulfur
S	ⓘ Brochantite	Cu₄(SO₄)(OH)₆
S	ⓘ Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
Cl	Chlorine
Cl	ⓘ Sampleite	NaCaCu₅(PO₄)₄Cl · 5H₂O
Ca	Calcium
Ca	ⓘ Aragonite	CaCO₃
Ca	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
Ca	ⓘ Dolomite	CaMg(CO₃)₂
Ca	ⓘ Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
Ca	ⓘ Hydroxylapatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(OH)
Ca	ⓘ Sampleite	NaCaCu₅(PO₄)₄Cl · 5H₂O
Ca	ⓘ Yukonite	Ca₃Fe³⁺(AsO₄)₂(OH)₃ · 5H₂O
Fe	Iron
Fe	ⓘ Goethite	α-Fe³⁺O(OH)
Fe	ⓘ Hematite	Fe₂O₃
Fe	ⓘ Lepidocrocite	γ-Fe³⁺O(OH)
Fe	ⓘ Scorodite	Fe³⁺AsO₄ · 2H₂O
Fe	ⓘ Yukonite	Ca₃Fe³⁺(AsO₄)₂(OH)₃ · 5H₂O
Cu	Copper
Cu	ⓘ Azurite	Cu₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂
Cu	ⓘ Brochantite	Cu₄(SO₄)(OH)₆
Cu	ⓘ Libethenite	Cu₂(PO₄)(OH)
Cu	ⓘ Malachite	Cu₂(CO₃)(OH)₂
Cu	ⓘ Sampleite	NaCaCu₅(PO₄)₄Cl · 5H₂O
As	Arsenic
As	ⓘ Scorodite	Fe³⁺AsO₄ · 2H₂O
As	ⓘ Yukonite	Ca₃Fe³⁺(AsO₄)₂(OH)₃ · 5H₂O

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References

Dimuccio, L.A., Garavelli, A., and Vurro, F. (1999) Minerali metallici di interesse archeometrico della “Grotta della Monaca” (S. Agata d’Esaro - Cs). Plinius, 22, 156-157.

Larocca, F., (ed.), (2005): La miniera pre-protostorica di Grotta della Monaca (Sant’Agata di Esaro, Cosenza). Centro Regionale di Speleologia “Enzo dei Medici“, Roseto Capo Spulico, 98 pp.

Larocca, F. (2010) Grotta della Monaca: A prehistoric copper and iron mine in the Calabria region (Italy). In: Anreiter, P., et al., (eds.), (2010), Mining in European History and its Impact on Environment and Human Societies. Proceedings for the 1st Mining in European History-Conference of the SFB HIMAT, Innsbruck, 12.–15. November 2009. Innsbruck University Press, 267-270.

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