(Knappenwand, Knappenwandgebiet, Untersulzbachtal, Hohe Tauern, Salzburg, Österreich)
Clefts in epidote-amphibolites of the so-called Knappenwandmulde series. The well known mineralization with outstanding epidote crystals is restricted to places where these clefts intersect with an aplite vein. The locality owes its discovery in 1865 to prospection works in search of copper ores, which occur at several places both at the Knappenwand and in its vicinity. Rarely, fine bornite crystals occur in association with epidote. The deposit was intermittently worked for epidote until 1956. Later, specimens were recovered during a scientific project guided by staff from the National History Museum of Vienna.
Presently (2007), the site is leased by the Zukunftkollegium Neukirchen and mined for specimens.
Refs.:
- Seemann, R. (1986): "Famous mineral localities: Knappenwand, Untersulzbachtal (Austria)." Mineralogical Record 17(3), 167-181.
- A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)
- R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
- http://www.mineraliensammler.com/bildergalerien/fundgebiete/knappenwand/epidot.htm
- http://www.strahlen.org/vp/au/knappenwand/knappenwand.htm
