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Italy, Lombardia, Bergamo prov., Dossena mine, other minerals
In this page, the photos of minerals
(different from fluorite: see the Dossena
fluorite page) from the old
mines of Paglio Pignolino, near the village of Dossena) . The pieces from this mine are often coated
by a white powder that is a mixture of hydrozincite, smithsonite and
hemimorphite, called calamina (this is also the old name of smithsonite).
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Aragonite
Stalactitic formation of aragonite
8x3.5cm
Cantiere Corone, Paglio Pignolino, Dossena, Bergamo. Italy
Specimen n.1178
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Bournonite
Aggregate of malformed XX, 3x5 cm wide. It is on calcite
partially dissolved with acid
8x5cm
Paglio Pignolino, Dossena, Bergamo. Italy
Specimen n.1176
2nd photo |
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Calcite
Combination of big scalenohedron, without matrix. This piece was
found, together with some others I have in my collection, in a ore assay near the mine,
full of clay and mould and this explains the lack of matrix
15.5x9cm
Cantiere Corone, Paglio Pignolino, Dossena, Bergamo. Italy
Specimen n.968
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Calcite
Big rhombohedron, partially covered by microcrystalline encrustation of hydrozincite;
there are some hemimorphite small
XX
6.5x4.5cm
Paglio Pignolino, Dossena, Bergamo. Italy
Specimen n.1055
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Calcite
Rhombohedron 1.7 cm high, replaced by smithsonite
apparently mixed with other powdery alteration minerals. The
pseudomorphosis is clearer in the 2nd photo, where it is possible to see
the pinkish coating
12x7cm
Paglio Pignolino, Dossena, Bergamo. Italy
Specimen n.1144
Another photo: bigger
and different view
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Calcite
Group of rhombs, edge up to 2.5cm, semi-transparent; there is a
partial coating of hydrozincite. On the back there are some small
XX of optical fluorite, colorless and transparent
14x9cm
Paglio Pignolino, Dossena, Bergamo. Italy
Specimen n.1056
Another photo: a
bigger view
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Calcite
Combinations of rhombs, edge up to 3.4cm; there are some hemimorphite
XX
6.5x6cm
Paglio Pignolino, Dossena, Bergamo. Italy
Specimen n.1057
Another photo: a
bigger view
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Calcite
A detail of a bigger piece, with calcite XX (edge up to 1.7cm)
partially replaced and covered by white smithsonite (a bigger view
in the 2nd photo) and hydrozincite (hydrozincite is an alteration product also of smithsonite). In the last photo it is
possible to see the reticulated shape of hydrozincite that has replaced
the calcite XX edges
15.5x9cm
Paglio Pignolino, Dossena, Bergamo. Italy
Specimen n.1058
Another photo: a
detail of specimen
Another photo: right
side
Another photo: front
side
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Cerussite
Twinned formation, with the usual V shape, encrusted by a reddish
coat, on a small portion of fluorite
4.8x4.5cm
Paglio Pignolino, Dossena, Bergamo. Italy
Specimen n.467
Another photo:
bigger and
different view |
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Cerussite
"V" formation of cerussite, 1.8x1.5cm wide, on matrix
6x5cm
Paglio Pignolino, Dossena, Bergamo. Italy
Specimen n.324
Another photo:
bigger view |
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Cerussite
Twinned formation, 3x2.3 cm wide
4.5x2.5cm
Paglio Pignolino, Dossena, Bergamo. Italy
Specimen n.1241
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Smithsonite
A former scalenohedron of calcite has been completely replaced by
smithsonite, to obtain a malformed new X. The former X is partially empty,
calcite has been dissolved (2nd photo)
10x10cm
Paglio Pignolino, Dossena, Bergamo. Italy
Specimen n.764
Another photo:
back of piece |
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Smithsonite
Large piece (see the 2nd photo) showing pseudomorphosis of smithsonite
after calcite. In the 3rd photo it is possible to see details on
the the calcite cast
28x18cm
Paglio Pignolino, Dossena, Bergamo. Italy
Specimen n.686
Another photo:
entire piece
Another photo:
a view on former
calcite
Another photo:
detail of
reddish part |
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Smithsonite
Another pseudomorphosis: the yellow color is due to
greenockite inclusion
5x3.5cm
Paglio Pignolino, Dossena, Bergamo. Italy
Specimen n.273 |
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Smithsonite
This piece is made of compact fluorite veins embedded in the
rock. The surface of fluorite is replaced my microcrystalline smithsonite,
in a globular appearance with pearly reflections. In evidence a corner of
a former fluorite cubic X
10x10cm
Paglio Pignolino, Dossena, Bergamo. Italy
Specimen n.1165
Another photo: entire
piece
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Smithsonite
Small XX of green smithsonite, filling cavities
in the mineralized rock. There is a small portion with earthy coating of
yellow greenockite
9.5x7.5cm
Paglio Pignolino, Dossena, Bergamo. Italy
Specimen n.55 |
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Greenockite
Earthy coating of yellow greenockite in a
small portion of the previous smithsonite piece |
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Sphalerite
Black XX of sphalerite with metallic luster, embedded in a calcite
vein
10x9cm
Paglio Pignolino, Dossena, Bergamo. Italy
Specimen n.1166
Another photo:
entire
piece
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Wulfenite
Thin XX of yellow wulfenite, up to 0.6cm long, on matrix
6.5x6cm
Paglio Pignolino, Dossena, Bergamo. Italy
Specimen n.488 |
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© Fernando Metelli. All photos
and other material on this site are copyright, if you wish to use them please
contact me for permission.
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