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Alpine Regions, central area, Switzerland
The central Alpine Regions
mean, in this page, the two Swiss cantons of Ticino (contiguous to Italy)
and Grisons (north-east of Ticino)
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Anatase
Some XX up to 0.6cm long, lustrous and metallic, dark bluish,
on matrix
cleaned from iron oxides. It is a typical Alpine piece. The one in
evidence is posted on another smaller X
9.5x5.5cm
Thusis, Domleschg, Grisons (Grischun). Switzerland
Specimen n.701
Another photo: a bigger
view
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Apatite
Pink apatite, 0.7cm wide, in a complex shape. It is the usual
Alpine association: smoked quartz up to 3cm and adularia
(K-feldspar)
up to 1cm (in this case adularia, normally white, is green for byssolite
inclusion). It is a detail of a bigger piece, as it is possible to see
in the other photo
10x10cm
Strem Valley, Sedrun, Tujetsch (Travetsch), Grisons (Grischun. Switzerland
Specimen n.446
Another photo: entire
piece
Another photo: bigger
view
Another photo: different
point of view
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Fluorite
Group of XX, edge up to 1.7 cm, blue-gray with a gray phantom. It comes from the Swiss Alpine pass
that connect Elm in the Sernftal in Glarus with Pigniu (Panix) in the
Vorderrhein Valley of Grisons
9x5.5cm
Panix Pass (Panixer Pass), Panix Valley, Grisons (Grischun). Switzerland
Specimen n.695
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Hematite
Trasparent smoky quartz partly covered by hematite blades XX.
The Travetsch Valley is one of the best Alpine mineralogical areas and
Sedrun is the main village in the Valley
1.5x5cm
Nalps Valley, Tujetsch (Tavetsch), Grisons (Grischun).
Switzerland
Specimen n.722
Another photo: a different
point of view
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Milarite
Couple of milarite XX, up to 1cm long, well terminated but damaged in the lower
part, on adularia (K-feldspar) matrix
4x3cm
Val Giuv, Tujetsch (Tavetsch), Grisons. Switzerland
Specimen n.687
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Adularia
(K-feldspar)
Combination of XX, edge up to 9 cm. K-feldspar is more correct name,
since adularia is not IMA valid name, it is a sort of k-feldspar variety
13x10cm
Val Giuv, Tujetsch (Tavetsch), Grisons. Switzerland
Specimen n.996
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Quartz
Single fat X
13x7cm
Cima della Bianca, Cristalina valley, Grisons. Switzerland
Specimen n.1010 |
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Quartz
Biterminated X, 4.2 cm long, with byssolite inclusions. The X
stands on a piece of rock covered by byssolite, with some XX of
epidote up 1.2 cm long
8.5x5cm
Upper Cavrein Alp, Vorderrhein Valley, Grisons. Switzerland
Specimen n.1207 |
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Quartz
Group of XX up to 3.5 cm, transparent with "chlorite"
inclousions (see the 2nd photo)
5x4.5cm
Grisons area. Switzerland
Specimen n.1271
2nd photo |
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Apatite
Complex XX of apatite, transparent, up to 1 cm wide
1xcm
San Gottardo pass, Ticino (Tessin). Switzerland
Specimen n.670
Another photo:
entire piece |
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Hematite
Bright iron rose of hematite (0.7 cm wide) on albite with a
swarm of black anatase small XX (see the 4th photo)
10x6cm
Fibbia, San Gottardo massif, Leventina, Ticino (Tessin). Switzerland
Specimen n.1266
Another photo:
entire piece
Another photo:
bigger view
Another photo:
detail on
anatase |
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Adularia
(K-feldspar)
Twinned XX of adularia - 3.5x3cm wide - on matrix covered by smaller
XX od adularia. From the pass from Grisons canton to Ticino and Italy
10x6cm
Lucomagno pass (Lukmanier pass), Blenio Valley, Ticino (Tessin). Switzerland
Specimen n.996
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Adularia
(K-feldspar)
Rock covered by adularia XX, up to 3 cm edge, with smoked
quartz. Minerals are covered by a coating of "chlorite".
Adula Mountain is "An antique and
generic locality name, dating back to the late 18th century, when
Adularia was named by the monk E. Pini of Milan, Italy. At that time,
the Adula Mts (Mons Adula) included the whole chain separating Ticino
from Uri and Grischun, from the St Gotthard area in the west to the
present Adula group in the east" (from Mindat)
9.5x7.5cm
Adula mt, Ticino (Tessin). Switzerland
Specimen n.1014
Another photo: a
bigger view
Another photo: a
detail
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Quartz
Transparent, elongated XX, up to 6.5 cm long
11.5x7.5cm
San Gottardo pass, Leventina, Ticino (Tessin). Switzerland
Specimen n.1228 |
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Quartz
Couple of quartz XX up tp 4 cm long, very transparent and bright,
posted on the top of the matrix. Inside the quartz XX there are
some schorl malformed XX
8x7cm
Lucomagno pass (Lukmanier pass), Blenio Valley, Ticino (Tessin). Switzerland
Specimen n.1427
Another photo:
a
different view |
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Rutile
Elongated XX, up to 4cm long, within quartz XX. In the 2nd
photo it is possible to see a bigger view of same XX, with othe small
rutile XX. In the 3rd photo another detail of piece
6x7cm
Lucomagno pass (Lukmanier pass), Blenio Valley, Ticino (Tessin). Switzerland
Specimen n.568
Another photo: a
different view
Another photo: another
group of XX
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Rutile
Prismatic X, well defined, 1.3 tall x 0.7cm, immersed in the quartzitic
rock. It is a typical sample from this Alpine place, near the Italian
border
6x7cm
Lodrino, Biasca, Ticino. Switzerland
Specimen n.788
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Tremolite
Elongated XX, white-gray, immersed in the compact calcite
partially dissolved with acid
8x5.5cm
Lodrino, Biasca, Ticino. Switzerland
Specimen n.1191 |
© 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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