I obtained a micromount at the 2011 Rochester Mineralogical Symposium labeled as bastnaesite from Blanchi Quarry, Cuasso al Monte, Varese Province, Lombardy, Italy. The Blanchi Quarry is not listed in MinDat as a sub- locality of Cuasso al Monte. Are any of our Italian micromounters familiar with the Blanchi Quarry? Thanks, Steve Stuart http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,221065#msg-221065 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:00:20 +0000 Phorum 5.2.15a http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,266864#msg-266864 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,266864#msg-266864 2) for me synchysiste-(Ce) but need accurate analysis because some samples may be synchysiste-(Y)
3) not clear photo!!
Ciao]]> Domenico Preite Localities Thu, 26 Jul 2012 14:25:54 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,266659#msg-266659 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,266659#msg-266659
Here are some 2 mm images I recently made. Any opinions as to ID? I will withdraw the bastaesite ID based on Domenico's comments.

[attachment 39612 Synchysite1b.JPG]

[attachment 39613 Bastnaesite1b.JPG]

[attachment 39614 Synchysite2b.JPG]

Regards,

Steve]]> Steve Stuart Localities Tue, 24 Jul 2012 00:13:45 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,266620#msg-266620 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,266620#msg-266620 of two synchysite-(Ce) (cream colour)
[www.mindat.org]
and again this photo to show a double sandwich...!!!
[www.mindat.org]
Ciao Steve...]]> Domenico Preite Localities Mon, 23 Jul 2012 16:14:16 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,266619#msg-266619 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,266619#msg-266619 (from AMI Db-AMI) to explain bastnaesite-(Ce) -->is intermedium prism large corredated by two "synchysite" on the margin
I repeat the exagonal extern are "synchysite" and intermediate crystal is bastnaesite-(Ce)....

My opinion is that is sure not sure the identification between synchysite-(Ce) and synchysite-(Y), in a recent conference in Bergamo Dr.Pietro Vignola of Milan university (after analysis) said that synchysite-(Ce) and synchysite-(Y) are present but synchysite-(Y) is very rare respect synchysite-(Ce) that is te term common.
[dbami.amiminerals.it]
[dbami.amiminerals.it]
Now in the follow message I can try to insert a photo to explain using colours..]]> Domenico Preite Localities Mon, 23 Jul 2012 16:06:20 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,265197#msg-265197 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,265197#msg-265197
Thanks!

Steve]]> Steve Stuart Localities Thu, 05 Jul 2012 02:29:17 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,264020#msg-264020 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,264020#msg-264020
Steve]]> Steve Stuart Localities Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:06:18 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,263905#msg-263905 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,263905#msg-263905 However, here is what I remember of the trip I made there two years ago.
Tourmaline quarry mark is only indicative of the area as I can't recognize it by the map.]]> Luca Baralis Localities Sun, 17 Jun 2012 07:27:14 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,263872#msg-263872 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,263872#msg-263872
I have put the Puricelli icon in an area of rocky outcrops north of the Laghetto quarry, as Luca describes. Is one of these outcrops the old quarry?

Steve]]> Steve Stuart Localities Sat, 16 Jun 2012 23:23:47 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,263871#msg-263871 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,263871#msg-263871
Regards,

Steve]]> Steve Stuart Localities Sat, 16 Jun 2012 23:17:54 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,263862#msg-263862 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,263862#msg-263862 That is the Gebel quarry (references: S. Mercadante, I minerali di cava Bonomi. Gr. Ed. L'Espresso, 2011. map on page 14).
Some times ago there where problems 'cause collectors made rocks fall down on the houses downside the Puricelli quarry. It surely cannot happen in that site!
I know as Puricelli quarry an old abandoned quarry north of Laghetto quarry, upstream (north of the road Cuasso - Cavagnano, see on google Earth).]]> Luca Baralis Localities Sat, 16 Jun 2012 21:16:21 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,263842#msg-263842 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,263842#msg-263842
[www.strahlen.org]

The SE quarry is Bonomi. The center quarry is Puricelli. The abandoned quarry NE of Puricelli is Laghetto. This information is provided by Domenico Preite. Still cannot place the Gebel quarry, not Cava Toumaline on Google Earth yet.

[attachment 39105 CuassoalMonte3.jpg]

Note that this image locates the Gebel on the same site as Puricelli. Still needs more clarity!

Thanks,

Steve]]> Steve Stuart Localities Sat, 16 Jun 2012 19:18:02 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,263837#msg-263837 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,263837#msg-263837 Laghetto (=little lake) quarry is at est of the village - that's Cavagnano. You can see the lake. I think it's not an official name, but it is normally used by collectors.
Cava tormaline alias Tourmaline quarry (also a non official name) is S-W outside of the picture. I think It cannot be seen on Google Earth as nowadays it is only a stony landfill covered by bushes.
Puricelli quarry is otside of the picture too, N of the laghetto quarry.]]> Luca Baralis Localities Sat, 16 Jun 2012 18:30:00 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,263824#msg-263824 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,263824#msg-263824
[attachment 39104 CuassoalMonte2.jpg]

Thanks!

Steve Stuart]]> Steve Stuart Localities Sat, 16 Jun 2012 14:45:02 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,261414#msg-261414 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,261414#msg-261414 Domenico Preite Localities Tue, 22 May 2012 07:46:07 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,261166#msg-261166 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,261166#msg-261166 Steve Stuart Localities Fri, 18 May 2012 23:36:07 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,261148#msg-261148 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,261148#msg-261148 Uwe Kolitsch Localities Fri, 18 May 2012 20:11:04 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,261114#msg-261114 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,261114#msg-261114 Steve Stuart Localities Fri, 18 May 2012 17:19:57 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,261063#msg-261063 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,261063#msg-261063 If it was a uranium ore the doubt remains among "uranophane" and weeksite.
If he were not a uranium ore could then be vanadinite.
Is still very difficult to give definite answers only for a photo, even knowing all the minerals hitherto found in Cuasso
Best Regards.]]> Antonio Gamboni Localities Fri, 18 May 2012 08:42:23 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,261050#msg-261050 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,261050#msg-261050
[attachment 38478 Yellowunknown1b.JPG]

[attachment 38479 Yellowunknown2b.JPG]

The first one shows very small sprays of acicular crystals. My first guess is mimetite, but would like to hear from other collectors of specimens from these quarries. Are there other possible IDs?

I'm not sure that the second image shows mimetite. The habits seems to be different than the first image. Any opinions?

Thanks and regards,

Steve]]> Steve Stuart Localities Fri, 18 May 2012 01:40:11 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,221228#msg-221228 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,221228#msg-221228 Uwe Kolitsch Localities Thu, 21 Apr 2011 10:19:12 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,221216#msg-221216 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,221216#msg-221216 -------------------------------------------------------
> Apparently, it's known by a different name now!

Yes, it is now Gebel quarry. However I think the most know it as Mantegazza quarry, or with the older name Bianchi quarry.
In the time, just after 1st WW, it (probably) was Sioli quarry.
Usually, names are taken from the owner or the operator of the quarry, so often they may change in the time... then many quarries get also a name from the site of exploitation, and that is reported on official papers. It can be quite messy.

Luca]]> Luca Baralis Localities Thu, 21 Apr 2011 08:59:19 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,221192#msg-221192 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,221192#msg-221192
[www.mindat.org]

Apparently, it's known by a different name now! Perhaps Domenic Preite or some else familiar with the quarries can add Bianchi to the locality string and also add bastnaesite to the minerals list if it can be supported by a reference.

I'm having trouble with dirt in my camera that leaves ugly tracks in my stacked images, so I cannot post an image of the bastnaesite. It shows brick red hexagonal prisms, very much like:

[www.mindat.org] and

[www.mindat.org] .

Thanks,

Steve]]> Steve Stuart Localities Thu, 21 Apr 2011 01:45:47 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,221162#msg-221162 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,221162#msg-221162 Mickey Marks Localities Wed, 20 Apr 2011 21:07:49 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,221088#msg-221088 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,221088#msg-221088 it.wikipedia.org]
"... Cava Bianchi (in seguito Mantegazza)" Bianchi quarry is a former name of the Mantegazza quarry.]]> Uwe Kolitsch Localities Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:17:48 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,221087#msg-221087 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,221087#msg-221087 No, not yet (there is ony a Bianchi quarry in California).

Another photo also shows a specimen from this quarry:
[www.mindat.org]]]> Uwe Kolitsch Localities Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:03:01 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,221069#msg-221069 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,221069#msg-221069 Mickey Marks Localities Wed, 20 Apr 2011 05:17:25 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,221065#msg-221065 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,221065,221065#msg-221065 locality of Cuasso al Monte. Are any of our Italian micromounters familiar with the Blanchi Quarry?

Thanks,

Steve Stuart]]> Steve Stuart Localities Wed, 20 Apr 2011 02:46:10 +0000