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La Sassa, Montecatini Val di Cecina, Pisa Province, Tuscany, Italyi
Regional Level Types
La SassaVillage
Montecatini Val di CecinaCommune
Pisa ProvinceProvince
TuscanyRegion
ItalyCountry

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PhotosMapsSearch
03453240017272244464164.jpg
Quartz

La Sassa carbonate vein, La Sassa, Montecatini Val di Cecina, Pisa Province, Tuscany, Italy
01824830017272244474913.jpg
Quartz

La Sassa carbonate vein, La Sassa, Montecatini Val di Cecina, Pisa Province, Tuscany, Italy
04974340017272057572474.jpg
Quartz

La Sassa carbonate vein, La Sassa, Montecatini Val di Cecina, Pisa Province, Tuscany, Italy
03453240017272244464164.jpg
Quartz

La Sassa carbonate vein, La Sassa, Montecatini Val di Cecina, Pisa Province, Tuscany, Italy
01824830017272244474913.jpg
Quartz

La Sassa carbonate vein, La Sassa, Montecatini Val di Cecina, Pisa Province, Tuscany, Italy
09465350017272057566599.jpg
Quartz

La Sassa carbonate vein, La Sassa, Montecatini Val di Cecina, Pisa Province, Tuscany, Italy
03453240017272244464164.jpg
Quartz

La Sassa carbonate vein, La Sassa, Montecatini Val di Cecina, Pisa Province, Tuscany, Italy
01824830017272244474913.jpg
Quartz

La Sassa carbonate vein, La Sassa, Montecatini Val di Cecina, Pisa Province, Tuscany, Italy
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
43° 15' 35'' North , 10° 41' 32'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
43.25985,10.69248
GeoHash:
G#: spxw574nb
GRN:
N29E06
Type:
Village
Köppen climate type:
Csa : Hot-summer Mediterranean climate
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Sassa152 (2014)0.0km
Bolgheri157 (2014)6.6km
Casale Marittimo654 (2014)7.4km
Canneto182 (2014)7.6km
Guardistallo859 (2014)7.9km
Mindat Locality ID:
107392
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:107392:1
GUID (UUID V4):
0
Other Languages:
Italian:
La Sassa, Montecatini Val di Cecina, Provincia di Pisa, Toscana, Italia


Small village on the northeastern foothills of Poggio al Pruno, on the left of Sterza stream.

A large area near the village of La Sassa (Sassa) is characterized by outcrops of hydrothermal veins, of which the small mixed sulfide deposit of Botro del Confine is a prominent example of the former mining activity. Very interesting from a mineralogical point of view is the carbonate vein outcropping near La Sassa, in which occur spheroidal quartz aggregates often showing a fibrous-radiating structure and a strong UV fluorescence. Related to hydrothermal activity is also the strong silicization affecting various rock types in this area.

Field work, undertaken at the end of the 1980s by the company RIMIN in all the area affected by hydrothermal activity, indicated the presence of gold up to ca. 100 ppb.


Furthermore, Nannoni e Capperi (1989) described the presence of tabular baryte crystals, up to 2 cm long, in cavities of some septarian concretions found in the fields below the Botro del Confine mine workings. In the same concretions, the presence of small crystals of pyrite, magnetite, and possible celestine is also reported. Probably to the same occurrence are ascribable the baryte crystals described by Antonio D’Achiardi (1877), who received them by G. Capellini with the generic indication Sterza Valley (Valle della Sterza) as place of provenance.

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Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

25 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

Rock list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

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Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Anglesite
Formula: PbSO4
ⓘ Ankerite
Formula: Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
ⓘ Aragonite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ Arsenopyrite
Formula: FeAsS
ⓘ Baryte
Formula: BaSO4
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ Celestine ?
Formula: SrSO4
ⓘ Chromite
Formula: Fe2+Cr3+2O4
ⓘ Dolomite
Formula: CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘ 'Dravite-Schorl Series'
ⓘ Galena
Formula: PbS
ⓘ Gold
Formula: Au
ⓘ Gypsum
Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O
ⓘ Jarosite
Formula: KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6
ⓘ Magnetite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘ Marcasite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Melanterite
Formula: Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O
ⓘ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Muscovite var. Fuchsite
Formula: K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
ⓘ Opal
Formula: SiO2 · nH2O
ⓘ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Pyrrhotite
Formula: Fe1-xS
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Quartz var. Chalcedony
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Quartz var. Star Quartz
Formula: SiO2
References:
Dallegno, A., Mazzoleni, G., and Menegazzi, R. - Luminescent quartz varieties at La Sassa and surrounding areas (Southern Tuscany): an outstanding discovery for the Italian Geological Heritage. In prep.
Dallegno, A., Mazzoleni, G., Menegazzi, R., and Borselli, G. - Luminescent quartz varieties at La Sassa and surrounding areas (Southern Tuscany): a new pathfinder for hot-spring precious metal deposits exploration. In prep.
Dallegno, A., and Mazzoleni, G. (2012) A preliminary report: the glowing quartz from La Sassa, Tuscany, Italy. Journal of the Fluorescent Mineral Society, 32, 15-37
Dallegno, A., Mazzoleni, G., and Pasqua, C. (2013) Luminescence spectroscopy: a powerful tool for studying hydrothermal minerals. The example of REE-doped silica phases in a sinter deposit close to Larderello geothermal field, Italy. Proceedings of the 13th Indonesia International Geothermal Convention and Exhibition 2013, Jakarta, June 12-14, p. 14
Dallegno, A. (2019) Il quarzo fibroraggiato di La Sassa (Montecatini Val di Cecina, Pisa, Italia): una varietà fotoluminescente di rilevanza mondiale [The fibrous-radiating quartz from La Sassa (Montecatini Val di Cecina, Pisa, Italy): a worldwide scientific interest photoluminescent variety]. In: Batoni, M., ed., Fiori della Terra - colori e geometrie nei minerali. IIa mostra espositiva, 4-12 maggio, 2019, IIS Leonardo da Vinci, Firenze. AMI (Associazione micro-mineralogica Italiana) – GML-AIM (Gruppo Mineralogico Lombardo - Associazione Italiana Mineralogia) – Tipografia "Il Bandino", Firenze, 7 pages
ⓘ Realgar
Formula: As4S4
ⓘ 'Rhombohedral Carbonate'
Formula: (Ca/Mg/Fe/Mn etc)CO3
References:
Dallegno, A., Mazzoleni, G., and Menegazzi, R. - Luminescent quartz varieties at La Sassa and surrounding areas (Southern Tuscany): an outstanding discovery for the Italian Geological Heritage. In prep.
Dallegno, A., Mazzoleni, G., and Pasqua, C. (2013) Luminescence spectroscopy: a powerful tool for studying hydrothermal minerals. The example of REE-doped silica phases in a sinter deposit close to Larderello geothermal field, Italy. Proceedings of the 13th Indonesia International Geothermal Convention and Exhibition 2013, Jakarta, June 12-14, p. 14
Dallegno, A. (2019) Il quarzo fibroraggiato di La Sassa (Montecatini Val di Cecina, Pisa, Italia): una varietà fotoluminescente di rilevanza mondiale [The fibrous-radiating quartz from La Sassa (Montecatini Val di Cecina, Pisa, Italy): a worldwide scientific interest photoluminescent variety]. In: Batoni, M., ed., Fiori della Terra - colori e geometrie nei minerali. IIa mostra espositiva, 4-12 maggio, 2019, IIS Leonardo da Vinci, Firenze. AMI (Associazione micro-mineralogica Italiana) – GML-AIM (Gruppo Mineralogico Lombardo - Associazione Italiana Mineralogia) – Tipografia "Il Bandino", Firenze, 7 pages
ⓘ Scorodite
Formula: Fe3+AsO4 · 2H2O
ⓘ Siderite
Formula: FeCO3
ⓘ Sphalerite
Formula: ZnS

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘGold1.AA.05Au
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘSphalerite2.CB.05aZnS
ⓘPyrrhotite2.CC.10Fe1-xS
ⓘGalena2.CD.10PbS
ⓘPyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
ⓘMarcasite2.EB.10aFeS2
ⓘArsenopyrite2.EB.20FeAsS
ⓘRealgar2.FA.15aAs4S4
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘChromite4.BB.05Fe2+Cr3+2O4
ⓘMagnetite4.BB.05Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘQuartz
var. Star Quartz		4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘvar. Chalcedony4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘ4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘOpal4.DA.10SiO2 · nH2O
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
ⓘSiderite5.AB.05FeCO3
ⓘAnkerite5.AB.10Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
ⓘDolomite5.AB.10CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘAragonite5.AB.15CaCO3
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘAnglesite7.AD.35PbSO4
ⓘBaryte7.AD.35BaSO4
ⓘCelestine ?7.AD.35SrSO4
ⓘJarosite7.BC.10KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6
ⓘMelanterite7.CB.35Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O
ⓘGypsum7.CD.40CaSO4 · 2H2O
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
ⓘScorodite8.CD.10Fe3+AsO4 · 2H2O
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘMuscovite
var. Fuchsite		9.EC.15K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
ⓘ9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Unclassified
ⓘ'Dravite-Schorl Series'-
ⓘ'Rhombohedral Carbonate'-(Ca/Mg/Fe/Mn etc)CO3

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Hⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Hⓘ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Hⓘ MelanteriteFe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O
Hⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ OpalSiO2 · nH2O
Hⓘ ScoroditeFe3+AsO4 · 2H2O
Hⓘ Dravite-Schorl Series
BBoron
Bⓘ Dravite-Schorl Series
CCarbon
Cⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Cⓘ AragoniteCaCO3
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Cⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Cⓘ SideriteFeCO3
Cⓘ Rhombohedral Carbonate(Ca/Mg/Fe/Mn etc)CO3
OOxygen
Oⓘ AnglesitePbSO4
Oⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Oⓘ AragoniteCaCO3
Oⓘ Quartz var. Star QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ BaryteBaSO4
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ CelestineSrSO4
Oⓘ Quartz var. ChalcedonySiO2
Oⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Oⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Oⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Oⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Oⓘ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Oⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Oⓘ MelanteriteFe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O
Oⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ OpalSiO2 · nH2O
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ ScoroditeFe3+AsO4 · 2H2O
Oⓘ SideriteFeCO3
Oⓘ Dravite-Schorl Series
Oⓘ Rhombohedral Carbonate(Ca/Mg/Fe/Mn etc)CO3
NaSodium
Naⓘ Dravite-Schorl Series
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Mgⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Mgⓘ Dravite-Schorl Series
Mgⓘ Rhombohedral Carbonate(Ca/Mg/Fe/Mn etc)CO3
AlAluminium
Alⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Alⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ Dravite-Schorl Series
SiSilicon
Siⓘ Quartz var. Star QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ Quartz var. ChalcedonySiO2
Siⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Siⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ OpalSiO2 · nH2O
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ Dravite-Schorl Series
SSulfur
Sⓘ AnglesitePbSO4
Sⓘ ArsenopyriteFeAsS
Sⓘ BaryteBaSO4
Sⓘ CelestineSrSO4
Sⓘ GalenaPbS
Sⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Sⓘ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Sⓘ MarcasiteFeS2
Sⓘ MelanteriteFe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O
Sⓘ PyriteFeS2
Sⓘ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
Sⓘ RealgarAs4S4
Sⓘ SphaleriteZnS
KPotassium
Kⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Kⓘ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Kⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Caⓘ AragoniteCaCO3
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Caⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Caⓘ Rhombohedral Carbonate(Ca/Mg/Fe/Mn etc)CO3
CrChromium
Crⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Crⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
MnManganese
Mnⓘ Rhombohedral Carbonate(Ca/Mg/Fe/Mn etc)CO3
FeIron
Feⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Feⓘ ArsenopyriteFeAsS
Feⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Feⓘ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Feⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Feⓘ MarcasiteFeS2
Feⓘ MelanteriteFe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O
Feⓘ PyriteFeS2
Feⓘ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
Feⓘ ScoroditeFe3+AsO4 · 2H2O
Feⓘ SideriteFeCO3
Feⓘ Dravite-Schorl Series
Feⓘ Rhombohedral Carbonate(Ca/Mg/Fe/Mn etc)CO3
ZnZinc
Znⓘ SphaleriteZnS
AsArsenic
Asⓘ ArsenopyriteFeAsS
Asⓘ RealgarAs4S4
Asⓘ ScoroditeFe3+AsO4 · 2H2O
SrStrontium
Srⓘ CelestineSrSO4
BaBarium
Baⓘ BaryteBaSO4
AuGold
Auⓘ GoldAu
PbLead
Pbⓘ AnglesitePbSO4
Pbⓘ GalenaPbS

Localities in this Region

Italy

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

Eurasian PlateTectonic Plate
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This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

D'Achiardi, A. (1877) Minerali toscani (ematite, baritina, farmacosiderite, preenite, epidoto, sperchise) della Valle della Sterza. Atti della Società Toscana di Scienze Naturali, 3, 160-165
Lotti, B. (1898) Il filone della Sassa in Val di Cecina (Toscana). Rassegna mineraria e delle industrie mineralurgiche e metallurgiche d'arti, scienze, economia e finanza affini, 8, 181-182
Lotti, B. (1910) Geologia della Toscana. Memorie Descrittive della Carta Geologica d’Italia, 13, 484 pp.
Nannoni, R., and Capperi, M. (1989) Miniere e minerali della Val di Cecina [salgemma di Ponteginori; Saline di Volterra; magnesite di S. Dalmazio (Pomarance); rame di Miemo, Montecastelli e Montecatini; La Sassa; Canneto; Micciano; Riparbella]. Gruppo Mineralogico Cecinese - Grafiche Favillini, Livorno, 68 pp.
Orlandi, P. (2006) Geositi minerari e mineralogici della provincia di Pisa. Doc.Q.C.7. In: Provincia di Pisa, Sistema Informativo Territoriale, Piano Territoriale di Coordinamento, Elaborati del quadro conoscitivo del PTCP, Pisa, 398 pp.
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