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Fontsante Mine, Tanneron, Draguignan, Var, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Francei
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Fontsante Mine | Mine |
| Tanneron | Commune |
| Draguignan | Arrondissement |
| Var | Department |
| Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | Region |
| France | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
43° 32' 44'' North , 6° 50' 14'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Tanneron | 1,410 (2016) | 5.9km |
| Mandelieu-la-Napoule | 19,292 (2016) | 7.7km |
| Auribeau-sur-Siagne | 2,736 (2016) | 8.6km |
| Théoule-sur-Mer | 1,347 (2016) | 9.3km |
| Pégomas | 6,052 (2016) | 9.5km |
Name(s) in local language(s):
Mine de Fontsante, Tanneron, Var, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
"(Coming from Fréjus). To the left of the 'Autoroute du Soleil' exiting the toll station of Les Adrets. Working mine with numerous minerals such as baryte, fluorite, galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, calcite, marcasite, (rose) quartz, and sellaite (brown-clear magnesium fluoride)." [Belot, 1978]
A former fluorite mine started in 1919 and closed in 1987. This large deposit is composed of 20 parallel veins hosted in gneisses. Their names from north to south:
- "Lenté" group (from A to E)
- "Nord" group (from 0 to 4)
- Saint-Barthélémy
- Saint-Augustin (known for its sulphides)
- Blanc
- Rouge
- Sainte-Barbe
- Clet
- "Sud" group (from 1 to 3)
- Figuier (known for its dark green cubic fluorites)
All these veins were operated underground by the SECME (Pechiney) company which produced here almost 2,000,000 tons of CaF2 ore.
According to P. Detang (1981), 4 mineralizing stages are known:
1) faulting of gneisses then low filling of cracks by purple and/or green fluorite (sometimes as "Aztec pyramids") with white quartz.
2) Large filling of the main veins by green and/or white fluorite with sellaite
3) Deposits (in vugs of the previous stage) of yellow/colorless cubic fluorite with baryte and some sulphides such as galena, sphalerite, pyrite, marcasite, etc...
4) Very low deposits of quartz and carbonates (calcite, dolomite, ankerite...)
The finest fluorite specimens of Provence come from this famous deposit. It is also well known for its barytes and its silver minerals (proustite, acanthite, stephanite, etc...) Today, all adits are closed but some large dumps and many outcrops still remain.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsDetailed Mineral List:
| ✪ Acanthite Formula: Ag2S Description: Only found in a series of cavities on the 105 level of the "Saint Augustin" vein |
| ⓘ Ankerite Formula: Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 Description: Have been seen on a thin blade for a BRGM study, microscopics grains |
| ⓘ Arsenolite Formula: As2O3 Description: Only on the "Saint Augustin" vein on the 105 level |
| ⓘ Arsenopyrite Formula: FeAsS Description: First found in the "Lenté" vein in 1969, found also in the "Figuier" vein in 1986 |
| ✪ Baryte Formula: BaSO4 Colour: colorless, yellow Description: Frequent mineral at the locality |
| ⓘ Bournonite Formula: PbCuSbS3 Description: Have been seen on a thin blade for a BRGM study |
| ⓘ Calcite Formula: CaCO3 Description: Not widespread in good crystals in the mine |
| ⓘ Cerussite Formula: PbCO3 Description: Known in the "Lenté" and in the "Sud 3" veins only |
| ⓘ Chalcopyrite Formula: CuFeS2 Description: Rare, with other sulphides or grains on fluorite or inclusion |
| ⓘ Chamosite Formula: (Fe2+,Mg,Al,Fe3+)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH,O)8 References: Georges FAVREAU collection and EDX analysisIdentified by Georges Favreau: SEM-EDS |
| ⓘ Coquimbite Formula: AlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O Description: Rare yellow to oranges grains |
| ⓘ Dolomite Formula: CaMg(CO3)2 Description: Rare in the mine, white rhomboedrons with sellaïte |
| ✪ Fluorite Formula: CaF2 Colour: green, white, purple, yellow, colorless, rarely blue Description: Very good crystals with several habits in all the mine |
| ✪ Galena Formula: PbS Colour: grey Description: Common in the "Saint Augustin" vein on all the levels, rare in the other veins |
| ⓘ Graphite Formula: C Description: Decimetric masses around the "14" and "24" faults |
| ⓘ Gypsum Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O References: Stephane Maury CollectionIdentified by Stephane Maury: Visual Identification |
| ⓘ Jarosite Formula: KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 Description: Very small crystals and coatings on marcasite |
| ⓘ Kaatialaite Formula: Fe3+[AsO2(OH)2]3 · 5H2O |
| ⓘ Kaolinite Formula: Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 Description: Massive inside of the fluorite cavities, particulary in the "Lenté" vein |
| ⓘ Malachite Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 Description: Rare, green coatings on chalcopyrite |
| ⓘ Marcasite Formula: FeS2 Description: Common in all the veins |
| ⓘ Melanterite Formula: Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O Description: Have been seen as yellow grains on altered marcasite during a BRGM study |
| ⓘ Native Arsenic Formula: As |
| ⓘ Native Sulphur Formula: S8 Description: Rare and small with galena in the "Lenté B" vein |
| ⓘ 'Ozocerite' Description: Uncommon on the site, was found particulary on the "Lenté", "Saint "Barthelemy" and "Blanc" veins |
| ⓘ Paracoquimbite Formula: Fe4(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O Description: Rare yellow to oranges grains |
| ⓘ Pearceite Formula: [Ag6As2S7][Ag9CuS4] References: Georges FAVREAU collection & EDX analysisIdentified by Georges Favreau: SEM-EDS |
| ⓘ Proustite Formula: Ag3AsS3 Description: Only on the "Saint Augustin" vein on the 105 level |
| ⓘ Pyrite Formula: FeS2 Description: Common in all the site |
| ⓘ Pyromorphite ? Formula: Pb5(PO4)3Cl Description: Only found on two samples during analyses at the E.N.S.M.P. in 1956 |
| ⓘ Pyrrhotite Formula: Fe1-xS Description: Replaced by pyrite. |
| ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 Description: Common on the site |
| ⓘ Sellaite Formula: MgF2 Description: White, fibrous masses (up to 20 centimeters diameter), with small colorless crystals in vugs.
Common in the central area. |
| ⓘ Sphalerite Formula: ZnS Description: Not widespread in the mine |
| ⓘ Stephanite Formula: Ag5SbS4 Description: Only on the "Saint Augustin" vein on the 105 level |
| ⓘ 'Tetrahedrite Subgroup' Formula: Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S Description: Have been seen on a thin blade for a BRGM study, very small grains |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Native Arsenic | 1.CA.05 | As |
| ⓘ | Graphite | 1.CB.05a | C |
| ⓘ | Native Sulphur | 1.CC.05 | S8 |
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
| ⓘ | Acanthite | 2.BA.35 | Ag2S |
| ⓘ | Sphalerite | 2.CB.05a | ZnS |
| ⓘ | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ | Pyrrhotite | 2.CC.10 | Fe1-xS |
| ⓘ | Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS |
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| ⓘ | Marcasite | 2.EB.10a | FeS2 |
| ⓘ | Arsenopyrite | 2.EB.20 | FeAsS |
| ⓘ | Proustite | 2.GA.05 | Ag3AsS3 |
| ⓘ | Bournonite | 2.GA.50 | PbCuSbS3 |
| ⓘ | 'Tetrahedrite Subgroup' | 2.GB.05 | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S |
| ⓘ | Stephanite | 2.GB.10 | Ag5SbS4 |
| ⓘ | Pearceite | 2.GB.15 | [Ag6As2S7][Ag9CuS4] |
| Group 3 - Halides | |||
| ⓘ | Sellaite | 3.AB.15 | MgF2 |
| ⓘ | Fluorite | 3.AB.25 | CaF2 |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Arsenolite | 4.CB.50 | As2O3 |
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| ⓘ | Ankerite | 5.AB.10 | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| ⓘ | Dolomite | 5.AB.10 | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| ⓘ | Cerussite | 5.AB.15 | PbCO3 |
| ⓘ | Malachite | 5.BA.10 | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| ⓘ | Baryte | 7.AD.35 | BaSO4 |
| ⓘ | Jarosite | 7.BC.10 | KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| ⓘ | Melanterite | 7.CB.35 | Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O |
| ⓘ | Coquimbite | 7.CB.55 | AlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
| ⓘ | Paracoquimbite | 7.CB.55 | Fe4(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
| ⓘ | Gypsum | 7.CD.40 | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates | |||
| ⓘ | Pyromorphite ? | 8.BN.05 | Pb5(PO4)3Cl |
| ⓘ | Kaatialaite | 8.CC.10 | Fe3+[AsO2(OH)2]3 · 5H2O |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Chamosite | 9.EC.55 | (Fe2+,Mg,Al,Fe3+)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH,O)8 |
| ⓘ | Kaolinite | 9.ED.05 | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Ozocerite' | - | |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Chamosite | (Fe2+,Mg,Al,Fe3+)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH,O)8 |
| H | ⓘ Coquimbite | AlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
| H | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| H | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| H | ⓘ Kaatialaite | Fe3+[AsO2(OH)2]3 · 5H2O |
| H | ⓘ Kaolinite | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| H | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Melanterite | Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O |
| H | ⓘ Paracoquimbite | Fe4(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| C | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| C | ⓘ Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| C | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| C | ⓘ Graphite | C |
| C | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| O | ⓘ Arsenolite | As2O3 |
| O | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
| O | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Chamosite | (Fe2+,Mg,Al,Fe3+)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH,O)8 |
| O | ⓘ Coquimbite | AlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
| O | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| O | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| O | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| O | ⓘ Kaatialaite | Fe3+[AsO2(OH)2]3 · 5H2O |
| O | ⓘ Kaolinite | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| O | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Melanterite | Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O |
| O | ⓘ Paracoquimbite | Fe4(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
| O | ⓘ Pyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3Cl |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| F | Fluorine | |
| F | ⓘ Fluorite | CaF2 |
| F | ⓘ Sellaite | MgF2 |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Chamosite | (Fe2+,Mg,Al,Fe3+)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH,O)8 |
| Mg | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Sellaite | MgF2 |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Chamosite | (Fe2+,Mg,Al,Fe3+)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH,O)8 |
| Al | ⓘ Coquimbite | AlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Kaolinite | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Chamosite | (Fe2+,Mg,Al,Fe3+)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH,O)8 |
| Si | ⓘ Kaolinite | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| P | Phosphorus | |
| P | ⓘ Pyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3Cl |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Acanthite | Ag2S |
| S | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| S | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
| S | ⓘ Bournonite | PbCuSbS3 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Coquimbite | AlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
| S | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
| S | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| S | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| S | ⓘ Marcasite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Melanterite | Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O |
| S | ⓘ Paracoquimbite | Fe4(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
| S | ⓘ Pearceite | [Ag6As2S7][Ag9CuS4] |
| S | ⓘ Proustite | Ag3AsS3 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| S | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| S | ⓘ Stephanite | Ag5SbS4 |
| S | ⓘ Native Sulphur | S8 |
| S | ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S |
| Cl | Chlorine | |
| Cl | ⓘ Pyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3Cl |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Fluorite | CaF2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| Fe | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chamosite | (Fe2+,Mg,Al,Fe3+)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH,O)8 |
| Fe | ⓘ Coquimbite | AlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
| Fe | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| Fe | ⓘ Kaatialaite | Fe3+[AsO2(OH)2]3 · 5H2O |
| Fe | ⓘ Marcasite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Melanterite | Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O |
| Fe | ⓘ Paracoquimbite | Fe4(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Bournonite | PbCuSbS3 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Pearceite | [Ag6As2S7][Ag9CuS4] |
| Cu | ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S |
| Zn | Zinc | |
| Zn | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| As | Arsenic | |
| As | ⓘ Arsenolite | As2O3 |
| As | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| As | ⓘ Native Arsenic | As |
| As | ⓘ Kaatialaite | Fe3+[AsO2(OH)2]3 · 5H2O |
| As | ⓘ Pearceite | [Ag6As2S7][Ag9CuS4] |
| As | ⓘ Proustite | Ag3AsS3 |
| Ag | Silver | |
| Ag | ⓘ Acanthite | Ag2S |
| Ag | ⓘ Pearceite | [Ag6As2S7][Ag9CuS4] |
| Ag | ⓘ Proustite | Ag3AsS3 |
| Ag | ⓘ Stephanite | Ag5SbS4 |
| Sb | Antimony | |
| Sb | ⓘ Bournonite | PbCuSbS3 |
| Sb | ⓘ Stephanite | Ag5SbS4 |
| Sb | ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S |
| Ba | Barium | |
| Ba | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
| Pb | Lead | |
| Pb | ⓘ Bournonite | PbCuSbS3 |
| Pb | ⓘ Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| Pb | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
| Pb | ⓘ Pyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3Cl |
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Fontsante Mine, Tanneron, Draguignan, Var, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France