Gianfranco Ciccolini's Photo Gallery
58V-EV5Sanidine K(AlSi3O8) , Capranicaite KCaNaAl4B4Si2O18
Capranica, Viterbo Province, Lazio, ItalyField of View: 2.9 mm
Largest Crystal Size: 0.9 mm
In the center of the photo, a tabular crystal, of sanidine, with iridescence. On the right, three tabular, colorless and transparent crystals of capranicaite. Studied with micro-raman method. Sanidine and capranicaite are similar morphologically, but upon closer observation, differences can be noted.
E34-AL5Nosean Na8(Al6Si6O24)(SO4)·H2O
Tre Croci, Vetralla, Viterbo Province, Lazio, ItalyField of View: 4.2 mm
Largest Crystal Size: 1.2 mm
A yellow nosean rhombododecahedron crystal. Gianfranco Ciccolini collection, author of the photo. Nikon D850, bellows, Luminar 25 mm.
6NR-RF3Thorite Th(SiO4) , Zircon Zr(SiO4)
Capranica, Viterbo Province, Lazio, ItalyField of View: 2.6 mm
Largest Crystal Size: 1 mm
A long flattened emerald green thorite crystal. A small zircon crystal has grown on top of the crystal (identifiable only under a microscope at high magnification). Gianfranco Ciccolini collection, author of the photo. Nikon D850, bellows, Luminar 25 mm.
CC3-HATSacrofanite (Na61K19Ca32)(Si84Al84O336)(SO4)26Cl2F6·2H2O
Biachella Valley, Sacrofano, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Lazio, ItalyField of View: 3 mm
Largest Crystal Size: 1.1 mm
Aggregate of colorless sacrofanite crystals. Analyzed at the La Sapienza University of Rome through Dr. Fabio Tamagnini. Gianfranco Ciccolini collection, author of the photo. Nikon D850, bellows, Luminar 25 mm.
HKJ-9WHMimetite Pb5(AsO4)3Cl , Quartz SiO2
Ojuela Mine, Mapimí, Mapimí Municipality, Durango, MexicoField of View: 2.9 mm
Largest Crystal Size: 1.2 mm
Aggregates of yellow, shiny, prismatic crystals, of mimetite, on small crystals of quartz, orange-red for inclusions of possible oxides and hydroxides of iron. Gianfranco Ciccolini collection, author of the photo. Nikon D850, bellows, Luminar 25 mm.
XVT-DH0Beudantite PbFe3(AsO4)(SO4)(OH)6 , Quartz SiO2
Lagoa Mine, Estorãos, Ponte de Lima, Viana do Castelo, PortugalField of View: 2.8 mm
Largest Crystal Size: 0.2 mm
Aggregate of pseudo-cubic (actually rhombohedral) purplish-brown crystals of beudandite on a quartz crystal. Gianfranco Ciccolini collection, author of the photo. Nikon D850, bellows, Luminar 25 mm.
E61-QRFUmbrianite K7Na2Ca2[Al3Si10O29]F2Cl2 , Fluorophlogopite KMg3(Si3Al)O10F2
Vispi Quarry, San Venanzo, Terni Province, Umbria, ItalyField of View: 2.8 m
Largest Crystal Size: 1 mm
At the center of the photo is an aggregate of rare umbrianite associated with fluor-phlogopite. The umbrianite could be analytically proven as stratified intergrowth with fluor-phlogopite.
The first child photo depicts the closest aggregate. The second and third images show the result of the analyzes performed. Note that umbrianite is colorless, orthorhombic, with a hardness of 5. The fluor-phlogopite is in this locality reddish brown, monoclinic, pseudo-hexagonal and with a lower hardness, 2-3.
Gianfranco Ciccolini collection, author of the photo. Nikon D850, bellow, Luminar 25 mm.
JAY-694Astrophyllite K2NaFe2+7Ti2Si8O26(OH)4F , Amphibole Supergroup AB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Água de Pau Volcano, São Miguel, Azores, PortugalField of View: 2.8 mm
Largest Crystal Size: 1.0 mm
On the left a large, reddish brown tabular crystal of astrophyllite and on the right an aggregate of smaller crystals, also of astrophyllite, orange in color. In the center of the photo an aggregate of black crystals of 'Amphibole Supergroup'. Gianfranco Ciccolini collection, author of the photo. Nikon D850, bellow, Luminar 25 mm.
746-12FQuartz (Var: Amethyst) SiO2 , Quartz SiO2 , Ilmenite Fe2+TiO3
Zovon, Vo', Padova Province, Veneto, ItalyField of View: 12.1 mm
Largest Crystal Size: 6 mm
A twin according to the law of Japan of two flattened crystals of amethyst quartz, with second generation of amethyst quartz. The minute black crystals are ilmenite, while on the right we see tabular crystals of paramorphic quartz after tridymite. Collection and photo by Gianfranco Ciccolini. Nikon D850, bellow, Luminar 46 mm, total opening.
9FE-PXYArmalcolite-Pseudobrookite Series, Phlogopite KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 , Enstatite Mg2Si2O6
La Aljorra Quarries, La Aljorra, Cartagena, Murcia, SpainLargest Crystal Size: 1.4 mm
Elongated, brownish-red crystals of Armalcolite-Pseudobrookite Series, with thin, tabular, light brown "phlogopite" crystals and thin, elongated, light yellow, tabular crystals of enstatite, towards the lower right corner. Gianfranco Ciccolini collection, author of the photo. Nikon D850, bellow, Luminar 25 mm.