FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[mineralenzo]

Hi, my name is Enzo and I am a researcher of minerals.

My research areas are currently Sicily. Soon I will insert some mineral samples coming mainly from this region, but not only. Some of them are macro and some micro and still are struggling with photographs immediately informing that I use the phone to take photos and therefore do not expect high-level photos. If you have the patience to follow me in this roundup you will certainly notice that some places of origin will be little, or nothing known.

The reason is simple, Sicily, apart from some sectors concerning sulfur mines (not even all of them because between small and large in a territory that it includes three provinces in particular which are Agrigento, Caltanissetta and Enna, where most of the sulfur mines are located) and a few other areas, the rest is almost completely unknown, particularly in terms of collecting.

See you soon for the first roundup of photographs.
Greetings.

[mineralenzo]

Here we are, I thought I'd start with some classic samples for Sicily, like sulfur. Overall, however, I will avoid, as far as possible, inserting classical minerals from classical locations
here is the first one below

Sulfur with Gypsum

[mineralenzo]

Sulphur with calcite

[mineralenzo]

coralloid aragonite with calcite in turn covered with aragonite

[mineralenzo]

Today I change locations and minerals by offering a couple of rock salt from a not very well-known Sicilian location.

Here, halite in aggregate crystals from 0.2 to 1 cm transparent

[Michael Shaw]

[mineralenzo]

hello Michael, I apologize I forgot to insert it.
this is the location of the two halite samples
Capaci, metropolitan city of Palermo province, Sicily, Italy
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Fixed

[mineralenzo]

Sulfur crystal with a rounded shape of more than 4 cm semitransparent.

[mineralenzo]

Fluorite and Barite

[mineralenzo]

Black gray fluorite on limestone

[mineralenzo]

Good morning, it would be interesting, in my opinion, to expand the mineral exposure with the related findings in the field where obviously it is possible. I would therefore like to create a special topic such as "a tour of Sicily" with some photographs relating to research and field trips. The problem is that I don't know where to open a possible topic in this forum. If someone could kindly inform me about this little dilemma, I would be grateful
regards.

[Jordi Fabre]

[mineralenzo]

Calcite - scalenohedral crystals on average 2.5 centimeters (sample 7x4x3.5) from Calatafimi, Province of Trapani, Sicily, Italy.

Ps: thanks for the information Jordi.

[mineralenzo]

Here are other Sicilian calcites. Limestone rocks are widely represented in Sicily and it is not difficult to find crystallized samples of this mineral, in various shapes and colors, and also in rather unusual crystalline forms. There is also no shortage of aesthetic samples, even quite large.

[mineralenzo]

Gypsum in double habitus (classical and acicular) in a sample that comes from Lercara. The two photos that follow always shoot the same sample from two different angles.