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mineralenzo
Joined: 30 Nov 2021
Posts: 35
Location: Sicily
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Posted: Feb 19, 2022 13:09 Post subject: A tour in Sicily for minerals ... and beyond |
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Hello everyone, my name is Enzo, I am a mineral researcher who delights in my free time looking for minerals particularly in the region where I reside (while not forgetting also those outside the region if conditions allow it) and I prefer to search in little areas known and frequented.
Now I leave you because the time at my disposal is running out and I will add that I will shortly give information on how collecting takes place in these parts, that is, with what methods and characteristics before proceeding to the story of the excursions! See you soon then!
Enzo.
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mineralenzo
Joined: 30 Nov 2021
Posts: 35
Location: Sicily
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Posted: Feb 20, 2022 06:56 Post subject: Re: A tour in Sicily for minerals ... and beyond |
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Greetings to all, let's start this timeless walk ... Did you remember the first adventures, the first "hiking" outings of when you were young? I do and with a certain nostalgia, the memories and sensations of the time, the emotions of that time, I remember for example brief glimpses of the then walks in the company of my mother in the sectors of Sferracavallo or Mondello near Palermo where a piece of calcite in small crystals astonished and where I didn't even know the name of minerals ... Now, more than 40 years later, there are only memories without photos of that period which, however, sealed the basis for the future collection.
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mineralenzo
Joined: 30 Nov 2021
Posts: 35
Location: Sicily
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Posted: Feb 21, 2022 08:41 Post subject: Re: A tour in Sicily for minerals ... and beyond |
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Let's start this tour of the Argimosco plateau located on the eastern Nebrodi mountains, near Montalbano Elicona, in the province of Messina, north-eastern Sicily, Italy
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Here is a partial view with Etna in the background, of Argimosco with its cliffs, in some cases even over 40 meters high. In these rocks they are also called megaliths because it is thought that in ancient times they were "retouched" by prehistoric man for religious rites etc ... certainly some rocks show some human intervention but most have assumed unusual but natural forms. |
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This sandstone rock formation recalls a woman in prayer is one of the attractions of the Argimosco, which d rocks with strange shapes has many, it has also from a geological and partly mineralogical point of view. These megaliths are almost all passing sandstone in some cases conglomerate but there are traces of granite in these parts. They are located in the northern sector of the plateau. |
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Here is one of the outcrops not even so easily accessible. You have to walk about ten minutes to reach them. As minerals they have quartz and phloglopitis, but there is no shortage of pegmatite filoncelli containing also tourmaline. |
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mineralenzo
Joined: 30 Nov 2021
Posts: 35
Location: Sicily
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Posted: Apr 08, 2022 13:35 Post subject: Re: A tour in Sicily for minerals ... and beyond |
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Volcanic islands located on the Tyrrhenian far north east of Sicily, Italy.
The naturalistic island par excellence, the closest from Milazzo, the place from which the connections to the islands depart and arrive, is Vulcano, with its particular smells that are perceived very often even before walking foot to the port of the island.
Here it is possible to see the Old Forge, the volcanic building that has the fumaroles, not exactly healthy, which can be accessed via a path prepared that is quite tiring if you are not adequately prepared and equipped. In recent times, however, for safety reasons due to an increase in fumarolic activity, access to the summit of the Volcano has been prohibited.
Piano Vulcano still has a fairly active tourist activity especially near the muds and the puddle and in the overlooking sea where, however, in certain points if you are not careful you risk getting burned since there are also active fumaroles (on the sea and on the adjacent beach including the sector adjacent to the pool) and along the streets some shops, bars, and restaurants.
Excellent for lovers of nature and also of minerals as long as they do not expect aesthetic minerals, Vulcano, in the summer season, except perhaps for a few days of August, can be a good idea, personally I think that May and September are the best two months to visit this island (especially in September due to the lower heat with the possibility of going to the beach) and to take walks without excessive crowds, which gradually increase in summer.
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Locality: | La Fossa crater, Vulcano Island, Eolie Islands, Lipari, Messina Province, Sicily, Italy | |
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mineralenzo
Joined: 30 Nov 2021
Posts: 35
Location: Sicily
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Posted: Apr 08, 2022 15:23 Post subject: Re: A tour in Sicily for minerals ... and beyond |
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Climbing along the slopes of the volcanic building "Forgia Vecchia" to the top of which the altitude reaches 400 meters in the highest part, is not so easy despite a well-maintained path but with sometimes very steep and sunny climbs. but the panoramic view from above amply repays the effort. exactly where you can see the fumes in the photo, there are also minerals of some interest, sulphides and sulphates in particular, sulfur and opal. However, the gases present there are very toxic.
If you were to pass through these parts do not forget to climb the crater perhaps passing through the fumaroles which are quite intense up close and, if you pass quickly, they are not even dangerous, always being careful. Returning to "Vulcano piano" near the port and the village, near the port you will find the mud pool, and here too there are fumaroles, two hills (which are all that remains of an ancient volcanic building) with rocks of various colors due to fumarolytic changes and in part hydrothermal.
Locality: | La Fossa crater, Vulcano Island, Eolie Islands, Lipari, Messina Province, Sicily, Italy | |
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From the path that leads to the crater of the Forgia where you can see Lipari. |
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Locality: | Vulcano Island, Eolie Islands, Lipari, Messina Province, Sicily, Italy | |
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Image of the cliff near the port and the mud pit. Here too there are minerals, mainly sulphates and some rare carbonates, as well as sulfur and opal. |
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mineralenzo
Joined: 30 Nov 2021
Posts: 35
Location: Sicily
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Posted: Apr 09, 2022 06:32 Post subject: Re: A tour in Sicily for minerals ... and beyond |
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Leaving the Forgia, returning to Vulcano piano, you can reach the base of this small volcanic building called Vulcanello by means of an asphalted road, just over 130 meters high. leads inside the crater and on a small mine where alum was extracted until 1888. Interesting excursion from a naturalistic, geological, mineralogical and landscape point of view, not so difficult or complex to access.
Locality: | La Fossa crater, Vulcano Island, Eolie Islands, Lipari, Messina Province, Sicily, Italy | |
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The road leading to Vulcanello clearly visible in the background |
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Locality: | La Fossa crater, Vulcano Island, Eolie Islands, Lipari, Messina Province, Sicily, Italy | |
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This appears on the edge of the Vulcanello crater where you can see the entrance to the small mine. Sulphates still emerge in these sectors. |
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mineralenzo
Joined: 30 Nov 2021
Posts: 35
Location: Sicily
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Posted: Apr 30, 2022 06:11 Post subject: Re: A tour in Sicily for minerals ... and beyond |
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Hello, today a journey begins in a sulfur mine, one of the few still accessible and not too dangerous (always paying attention), it is a small mine located in central eastern Sicily, in Mazzarino, Enna and its name is Bubbonia
for now I will stop here, next time I will post other photos inside including some minerals on site
Locality: | Bubbonia Mine, Mazzarino, Caltanissetta Province, Sicily, Italy | |
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in the attached photos you can see the entrance to the mine seen from the side, and in the other photo the warehouses and offices of the mine partially renovated and managed by the forestry |
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Locality: | Bubbonia Mine, Mazzarino, Caltanissetta Province, Sicily, Italy | |
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mineralenzo
Joined: 30 Nov 2021
Posts: 35
Location: Sicily
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Posted: Apr 30, 2022 08:26 Post subject: Re: A tour in Sicily for minerals ... and beyond |
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It is certainly interesting to enter these places that have been abandoned for decades and yet give a particular feeling. The sulfur mines have always represented for the Sicilians, something beautiful and ugly at the same time, here many people worked there, and not only adults, but also children who were called carusi, aged between 10 and 16 years who wore from the inside outside the mine of the boulders of sulfur combined with the gangue that weighed from 25 to 50 kilos per lap depending on the physical structure and age of the boy and the daily laps were even more than a dozen
Locality: | Bubbonia Mine, Mazzarino, Caltanissetta Province, Sicily, Italy | |
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Dark yellow celestite within a cream-colored celestite cavity, 1-2 centimeter crystals |
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Locality: | Bubbonia Mine, Mazzarino, Caltanissetta Province, Sicily, Italy | |
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Here an example of the more or less compact radiated celestite within which, in the cavities, celestite, sulfur visible here, calcite and stronzianite, sometimes also barite and aragonite, are found |
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mineralenzo
Joined: 30 Nov 2021
Posts: 35
Location: Sicily
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Posted: Apr 30, 2022 14:03 Post subject: Re: A tour in Sicily for minerals ... and beyond |
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during the excursion, in the vicinity of the exit of the mine location, it is possible to have this type of encounters like this bat
Locality: | Bubbonia Mine, Mazzarino, Caltanissetta Province, Sicily, Italy | |
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Locality: | Bubbonia Mine, Mazzarino, Caltanissetta Province, Sicily, Italy | |
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I like to observe everything during the excursions, animals, plants, geological structures and panoramic views like this one that I propose closing the discussion on this mine, for the specimens will be exhibited in the td of the collection soon |
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mineralenzo
Joined: 30 Nov 2021
Posts: 35
Location: Sicily
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Posted: May 02, 2022 11:44 Post subject: Re: A tour in Sicily for minerals ... and beyond |
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This time I take you to Monreale, a small town 8 km west of Palermo, at an altitude of 310 meters above sea level, which if you have the opportunity to pass by, I highly recommend you visit as the Norman Cathedral is the adjacent cloister were built centuries ago by the Normans who embellished both monuments with beautiful mosaics, and in addition to this there is a villa that has a viewpoint on the south side of the Conca D'oro and on part of Palermo. I close this preamble here.
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mineralenzo
Joined: 30 Nov 2021
Posts: 35
Location: Sicily
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Posted: May 02, 2022 12:03 Post subject: Re: A tour in Sicily for minerals ... and beyond |
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But in Monreale there is also, since the end of 2017, the year in which it was established, a museum of minerals that is quite interesting both from a mineralogical and petrological point of view with the presence of some fossils and is contained within a large classroom scholastic, the museum is in fact dedicated mainly to young people and novices, however anyone can access it even upon reservation and admission is free.
The Marco Maiorana museum is located within the Antonio Veneziano school of Monreale, Via Kennedy, 2 and is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, from 10 to 12 (data that may be subject to change), next time a virtual internal visit with lots of showcases and minerals.
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Monreale, Metropolitan City of Palermo Province, Sicily, Italy |
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mineralenzo
Joined: 30 Nov 2021
Posts: 35
Location: Sicily
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Posted: May 03, 2022 08:48 Post subject: Re: A tour in Sicily for minerals ... and beyond |
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Let's go inside but before delving into minerals, I would like to say a few words dedicated to the creator of all this: I am referring to Franco Tusa, who in addition to being the founder of the museum, is also director, curator, and also a guide for visitors.
Franco is also the president of the mineralogical association "La Tormalina" and from time to time also organizes excursions for educational-collecting purposes in the surroundings of the province of Palermo, including mines.
Here in the photo we see some micro specimens being viewed under a microscope. The microscope is also available to museum visitors.
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Some showcases in the museum, with the central table, and with Franco observing micros under the microscope. |
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mineralenzo
Joined: 30 Nov 2021
Posts: 35
Location: Sicily
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Posted: May 03, 2022 12:21 Post subject: Re: A tour in Sicily for minerals ... and beyond |
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Some showcases of the Maiorana Museum
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This photo gives an idea of the size of the room, to specify that this is a small village museum, but quite assorted as we will see later. |
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mineralenzo
Joined: 30 Nov 2021
Posts: 35
Location: Sicily
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Posted: May 07, 2022 07:33 Post subject: Re: A tour in Sicily for minerals ... and beyond |
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Let's move on to some minerals present inside the museum, which contains both Sicilian and Italian minerals and other classic world locations
Mineral: | Gypsum |
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Mineral: | Gypsum |
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Mineral: | Sulphur, Aragonite |
Locality: | Giumentaro Mine (Capodarso Mine), Capodarso, Enna (Castrogiovanni), Enna Province, Sicily, Italy | |
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mineralenzo
Joined: 30 Nov 2021
Posts: 35
Location: Sicily
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Posted: May 10, 2022 10:48 Post subject: Re: A tour in Sicily for minerals ... and beyond |
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Hi, here are some other examples from the museum.
Mineral: | Fluorite on Quartz |
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A note, however, to be included on this sample, Franco does not know the exact provenance but with high probability it is Sardinia, Italy. |
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Mineral: | Afitalite astrakhanite |
Locality: | Caltanissetta Province, Sicily, Italy | |
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a piece, in my opinion, quite interesting from a regional point of view (Sicily) for an excellent crystallization and integrity of the two / three centimeter crystals. |
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Mineral: | Sulphur Aragonite Calcite |
Locality: | Cozzo Disi Mine, Casteltermini, Agrigento (Girgenti) Province, Sicily, Italy | |
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This piece on which two stalactites rest comes from the Cozzo Disi mine, Casteltermini, Agrigento, Sicily and is rather unusual. |
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