Italian minerals page

Most of Austria and Slovenia are formed by the Alpine regions, but in my collection the eastern Alps minerals are represented by pieces coming from south Austria, just over the Italian border. The Ziller area is probably one of the most known place in this area

	Andalusite XX of andalusite up to 3 cm long, on metamorphic rock. This place is known for andalusite that is often transformed in pirite and other silica, like mica and clay. In fact, this piece piece seems to me a pseudomorphosis 8.5x6.6cm Lusens Valley (Lusenser Tal), Sellrain Valley, North Tyrol. Austria Specimen n.526
	Andalusite Another piece of of andalusite with blocky, rectangular XX up to 4 cm long, translucent, with a black color due to pseudomorphosis in iron oxides and hydroxides. Andalusite is embedded in gray graphite schist 8x5.5cm Lusens Valley (Lusenser Tal), Sellrain Valley, North Tyrol. Austria Specimen n.890
	Breunnerite Pseudo-rhombohedral XX up to 1.1cm; in evidence a twinned formation, in the talcose schist. It is a variety of ferroan magnesite and it is not a valid mineral species for IMA, but I see the specimens from Tyrol always called breunnerite, so I follow the trend. The Vizze pass lies between Austria and Italy; the Croda Rossa is well known for this mineral, especially in the northeast slope (the south slope belongs to Italy) 8.5x7cm Croda Rossa (Rotbachlspize), Vizze pass, Zillertal, North Tyrol. Austria Specimen n.36
	Tetrahedrite Single and well done X of tetrahedrite on calcite. It comes from the old and large mining district (tetrahedrite from this site is sometimes called schwazite, that is a synonym of mercurian tetrahedrite) 3.5x7cm Brixlegg-Rattenberg, Brixlegg-Schwaz area, Schwaz, North Tyrol. Austria Specimen n.854 Another photo: entire piece
	Limonite after siderite Group of XX of siderite, up to 1.2cm long, deeply altered and replaced by limonite, with quartz 11x8cm Ziller Valley (Zillertal), North Tyrol. Austria Specimen n.87
	Malachite Thin and fine threads, typical shape from this locality 5x6cm Brixlegg-Rattenberg, Brixlegg-Schwaz area, Schwaz, North Tyrol. Austria Specimen n.896 Another photo: a bigger view
	Quartz var amethist Sceptered quartz, pale amethist on the top, with XX of hematite 5x7cm Ziller valley (Zillertal), Mörchner (higher area), Zemmgrund, North Tyrol. Austria Specimen n.943 Another photo: a bigger view