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Dora Maira Massif, Cuneo Province, Piedmont, Italy

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(Massiccio Dora Maira, Cuneo, Piemonte, Italia)

Very high pressure metamorphism of Mg-rich pelites, at depths over 100 km, have created this very unusual pyrope-coesite-quartzite, now exposed in the Western Alps. Famous for its (nearly) colorless, very pure pyrope (over 95% pyrope molecule) as crude crystals up to coconut size. High-pressure phases like ellenbergerite and coesite are preserved only as inclusions in the pyrope, not in the surrounding matrix.

The main composition of the quartzite is: quartz, phengite, talc, kyanite, pyrope.

Ref.:
Hermann, J. (2003) Experimental evidence for diamond-facies metamorphism in the Dora-Maira massif. Lithos 70: 163-182.




Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities


Mineral List:
  		•  Aegirine
    NaFe
    3+
     
    		[Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    		]
    Description: Late phase ; at the contact between quartz and taramite.
    Reference: [T. Hirajima and R. Compagnoni : "Petrology of a jadeite-quartz-almandine-phengite fels with retrograde ferro-nyböite from the Dora-Maira Massif, Western Alps", Eur. Journ. Mineral., 1993, 5, pp 943-955.]
  		•  Aegirine-augite
    (Na,Ca)(Fe
    3+
     
    		,Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mg,Al)Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    Description: Coronitic cpx.
    Reference: [Eur. J. Mineral. , 1993, 5, pp. 943-955.]
  		•  Albite
    Na[AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    Reference: [T. Hirajima and R. Compagnoni : "Petrology of a jadeite-quartz-almandine-phengite fels with retrograde ferro-nyböite from the Dora-Maira Massif, Western Alps", Eur. Journ. Mineral., 1993, 5, pp 943-955.]
  		•  Almandine
    Fe
    2+
    3
    		Al
     
    2
    		[SiO
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
    Reference: [T. Hirajima and R. Compagnoni : "Petrology of a jadeite-quartz-almandine-phengite fels with retrograde ferro-nyböite from the Dora-Maira Massif, Western Alps", Eur. Journ. Mineral., 1993, 5, pp 943-955.]
  		•  'Almandine-Spessartine Series'
    Reference: [Eur. J. Mineral. , 1993, 5, pp. 943-955.]
  		•  'Apatite'
    Reference: [MinRec 27:303]
  		•  Bearthite
    Ca
     
    2
    		Al[OH|(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		]
    Reference: [MinRec 27:303]
  		•  Biotite
    Description: Fe/Mg = 0.4-0.5
    Reference: [T. Hirajima and R. Compagnoni : "Petrology of a jadeite-quartz-almandine-phengite fels with retrograde ferro-nyböite from the Dora-Maira Massif, Western Alps", Eur. Journ. Mineral., 1993, 5, pp 943-955.]
  		•  Chloritoid
    (Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mg,Mn
    2+
     
    		)Al
     
    2
    		[O|(OH)
     
    2
    		|SiO
     
    4
    		]
    Reference: [- Piccoli, G.C. (2002): Minerali delle Alpi Marittime e Cozie. Provincia di Cuneo. Amici del Museo "F. Eusebio", Ed., Alba, 366 pp.]
    Site Photo
    Colle di Cervetto, Sampeyre, Varaita Valley, Dora Maira Massif, Cuneo Province, Piedmont, Italy
    © Marco Macchieraldo
  		•  Clinochlore
    (Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    5
    		Al[(OH)
     
    8
    		|AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		]
    Reference: [MinRec 27:303]
  		•  'Clinopyroxene Subgroup'
    Reference: [http://www.ngu.no/FileArchive/165/2003_055.pdf Geological Survey of Norway / The Alice Wain Memorial West Norway Eclogite Field Symposium / Abstract Volume p. 37.]
  		•  Coesite
    SiO
     
    2
    Reference: [MinRec 27:303]
    Site Photo
    Dora Maira Massif, Cuneo Province, Piedmont, Italy
    © Sergey Vasiliev
  		•  Corundum
    Al
     
    2
    		O
     
    3
    Reference: [MinRec 27:303]
  		•  Dravite
    [Na][Mg
     
    3
    		][Al
     
    6
    		][(OH)
     
    3
    		|OH|(BO
     
    3
    		)
     
    3
    		|Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    18
    		]
    Reference: [MinRec 27:303]
  		•  Ellenbergerite (TL)
    Mg
     
    6
    		Al
     
    6
    		Ti[(OH)
     
    6
    		|(HSiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    4
    		|(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    4
    		]
    Type Locality: Dora Maira Massif, Cuneo Province, Piedmont, Italy
    Reference: [Contr. Mineral. Petrol., 92, 316-321.; MinRec 27:303]
    Site Photo
    Dora Maira Massif, Cuneo Province, Piedmont, Italy
    © Elmar Lackner
  		•  Enstatite
    Mg
     
    2
    		[SiO
     
    3
    		]
     
    2
    Reference: [Piccoli, G.C., Maletto, G., Bosio, P., Lombardo, B. (2007). Minerali del Piemonte e della Valle d\'Aosta. Associazione Amici del Museo \"F. Eusebio\" Alba, Ed., Alba (Cuneo) 607 pp.]
  		•  Epidote
    var: Allanite-Epidote
    Reference: [http://www.ngu.no/FileArchive/165/2003_055.pdf Geological Survey of Norway / The Alice Wain Memorial West Norway Eclogite Field Symposium / Abstract Volume p. 37.]
  		•  'Ferronyböite'
    [Na][Na
     
    2
    		][Fe
    2+
    3
    		Al
     
    2
    		][(OH)
     
    2
    		|AlSi
     
    7
    		O
     
    22
    		]
    Description: - Reaction band garnet/albite - single crystals within albite
    Reference: [T. Hirajima and R. Compagnoni : "Petrology of a jadeite-quartz-almandine-phengite fels with retrograde ferro-nyböite from the Dora-Maira Massif, Western Alps", Eur. Journ. Mineral., 1993, 5, pp 943-955.]
  		•  'Garnet Group'
    X
     
    3
    		Z
     
    2
    		(TO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		 (X = Ca, Fe, etc·, Z = Al, Cr, etc·, T = Si, As, V)
    Reference: [http://www.ngu.no/FileArchive/165/2003_055.pdf Geological Survey of Norway / The Alice Wain Memorial West Norway Eclogite Field Symposium / Abstract Volume p. 37.]
  		•  Gedrite
    ☐[Mg
     
    2
    		][Mg
     
    3
    		Al
     
    2
    		][(OH)
     
    2
    		|Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    22
    		]
    Reference: [MinRec 27:303]
  		•  Goethite
    α-Fe
    3+
     
    		O(OH)
    Reference: [Piccoli, G.C. (2002). Minerali delle Alpi Marittime e Cozie Provincia di Cuneo. Associazione Amici del Museo \"F. Eusebio\" Alba, Ed., Alba (Cuneo) 366 pp.]
  		•  Hydroxylwagnerite (TL)
    Mg
     
    2
    		[PO
     
    4
    		](OH)
    Type Locality: Dora Maira Massif, Cuneo Province, Piedmont, Italy
    Reference: [IMA Website]
  		•  Ilmenite
    Fe
    2+
     
    		TiO
     
    3
    Description: Rims rutile.
    Reference: [T. Hirajima and R. Compagnoni : "Petrology of a jadeite-quartz-almandine-phengite fels with retrograde ferro-nyböite from the Dora-Maira Massif, Western Alps", Eur. Journ. Mineral., 1993, 5, pp 943-955.]
  		•  Jadeite
    Na(Al,Fe
    3+
     
    		)[Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    		]
    Reference: [T. Hirajima and R. Compagnoni : "Petrology of a jadeite-quartz-almandine-phengite fels with retrograde ferro-nyböite from the Dora-Maira Massif, Western Alps", Eur. Journ. Mineral., 1993, 5, pp 943-955.]
  		•  Katophorite
    Na[CaNa][Fe
    2+
    4
    		(Al,Fe
    3+
     
    		)][(OH)
     
    2
    		|AlSi
     
    7
    		O
     
    22
    		]
    Reference: [T. Hirajima and R. Compagnoni : "Petrology of a jadeite-quartz-almandine-phengite fels with retrograde ferro-nyböite from the Dora-Maira Massif, Western Alps", Eur. Journ. Mineral., 1993, 5, pp 943-955.]
  		•  Kyanite
    Al
     
    2
    		[O|SiO
     
    4
    		]
    Reference: [MinRec 27:303]
    Site Photo
    Colle di Cervetto, Sampeyre, Varaita Valley, Dora Maira Massif, Cuneo Province, Piedmont, Italy
    © Marco Macchieraldo
  		•  Magnesiochloritoid
    MgAl
     
    2
    		[O|(OH)
     
    2
    		|SiO
     
    4
    		]
    Reference: [Lithos, 41: 37-57.]
  		•  Magnesiodumortierite (TL)
    (Mg,Ti,[](Al,Mg)
     
    2
    		Al
     
    4
    		Si
     
    3
    		O
     
    18-y
    		(OH)
     
    y
    		B y = 2-3
    Type Locality: Dora Maira Massif, Cuneo Province, Piedmont, Italy
    Reference: [Eur.J.Min.(1995) 7, 525-535; MinRec 27:303]
    Site Photo
    Dora Maira Massif, Cuneo Province, Piedmont, Italy
    © loranth csanad
  		•  Magnesiostaurolite (TL)
    (Mg,Li,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    1.5-2
    		Al
     
    9
    		[O
     
    6
    		|(OH)
     
    2
    		|(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    4
    		]
    Type Locality: Gilba Valley, Brossasco, Varaita Valley, Dora Maira Massif, Cuneo Province, Piedmont, Italy
    Description: Occurs together with talc, clinochlore and kyanite (or alone, armouring corundum) as inclusions in pyrope megablasts.
    Reference: [Terra Nova, Abstract supplement 1, 9, 40; European Journal of Mineralogy (2003), 15, 167-176]
    Site Photo
    Pratolugo (Pratolungo), Isasca valley, Venasca, Varaita Valley, Dora Maira Massif, Cuneo Province, Piedmont, Italy
    © G.Fraccaro
  		•  Microcline
    K[AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    Reference: []
  		•  'Monazite'
    Reference: [MinRec 27:303]
  		•  Monazite-(Ce)
    (Ce,La,Nd,Th)PO
     
    4
    Reference: [Piccoli, G.C., Maletto, G., Bosio, P., Lombardo, B. (2007). Minerali del Piemonte e della Valle d\'Aosta. Associazione Amici del Museo \"F. Eusebio\" Alba, Ed., Alba (Cuneo) 607 pp.]
  		•  Muscovite
    KAl
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		]
    Reference: [R. Lefèvre and A. Michard, Bull. Soc. Franç. Minér. Crist., 1965, LXXXVIII, pp. 664-677.]
  		•  Nybøite
    [Na][Na
     
    2
    		][Mg
     
    3
    		Al
     
    2
    		][(OH)
     
    2
    		|AlSi
     
    7
    		O
     
    22
    		]
    Reference: [www.minsocam.org/msa/Handbook/Nyboite.PDF]
  		•  Omphacite
    (Ca,Na)(Mg,Al)[Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    		]
    Description: Coronitic cpx.
    Reference: [T. Hirajima and R. Compagnoni : "Petrology of a jadeite-quartz-almandine-phengite fels with retrograde ferro-nyböite from the Dora-Maira Massif, Western Alps", Eur. Journ. Mineral., 1993, 5, pp 943-955.]
  		•  Orthoclase
    K[AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    Reference: [R. Lefèvre and A. Michard, Bull. Soc. Franç. Minér. Crist., 1965, LXXXVIII, pp. 664-677.]
  		•  Paragonite
    NaAl
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		]
    Reference: [T. Hirajima and R. Compagnoni : "Petrology of a jadeite-quartz-almandine-phengite fels with retrograde ferro-nyböite from the Dora-Maira Massif, Western Alps", Eur. Journ. Mineral., 1993, 5, pp 943-955.]
  		•  Phengite
    Reference: [MinRec 27:303]
    Site Photo
    Gilba Valley, Brossasco, Varaita Valley, Dora Maira Massif, Cuneo Province, Piedmont, Italy
    © GiovanniFraccaro
  		•  Phlogopite
    KMg
     
    3
    		[(OH,F)
     
    2
    		|AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		]
    Reference: [http://www.ngu.no/FileArchive/165/2003_055.pdf Geological Survey of Norway / The Alice Wain Memorial West Norway Eclogite Field Symposium / Abstract Volume p. 37.]
  		•  Phosphoellenbergerite (TL)
    Mg
     
    14
    		[(OH)
     
    6
    		|(HPO
     
    4
    		,CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    		|(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    6
    		]
    Type Locality: Dora Maira Massif, Cuneo Province, Piedmont, Italy
    Reference: [Contrib. Min. Pet. (1998) 131, 54; Am. Mineral. (1999) 84, 1196]
    Site Photo
    Dora Maira Massif, Cuneo Province, Piedmont, Italy
    © jo-esche 2006
  		•  Pyrite
    FeS
     
    2
    Reference: [Piccoli, G.C. (2002). Minerali delle Alpi Marittime e Cozie Provincia di Cuneo. Associazione Amici del Museo \"F. Eusebio\" Alba, Ed., Alba (Cuneo) 366 pp.]
  		•  Pyrope
    Mg
     
    3
    		Al
     
    2
    		[SiO
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
    Reference: [MinRec 27:303]
    Site Photo
    Case Parigi (Case Paris), Martiniana Po, Po Valley, Dora Maira Massif, Cuneo Province, Piedmont, Italy
    © GiovanniFraccaro
  		•  Quartz
    SiO
     
    2
    Reference: [MinRec 27:303]
  		•  Rutile
    TiO
     
    2
    Reference: [MinRec 27:303]
  		•  Sapphirine
    (Mg,Fe)
     
    4-x
    		Al
     
    4+x
    		[Al
     
    4+x
    		Si
     
    2-x
    		O
     
    18
    		]O
     
    2
    Reference: [MinRec 27:303]
  		•  Schorl
    [Na][Fe
    2+
    3
    		][Al
     
    6
    		][(OH)
     
    3
    		|OH|(BO
     
    3
    		)
     
    3
    		|Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    18
    		]
    Reference: [Piccoli, G.C., Maletto, G., Bosio, P., Lombardo, B. (2007). Minerali del Piemonte e della Valle d\'Aosta. Associazione Amici del Museo \"F. Eusebio\" Alba, Ed., Alba (Cuneo) 607 pp.]
  		•  Spinel
    MgAl
     
    2
    		O
     
    4
    Reference: [Piccoli, G.C., Maletto, G., Bosio, P., Lombardo, B. (2007). Minerali del Piemonte e della Valle d\'Aosta. Associazione Amici del Museo \"F. Eusebio\" Alba, Ed., Alba (Cuneo) 607 pp.]
  		•  Sulphur
    S
     
    8
    Reference: [Piccoli, G.C., Maletto, G., Bosio, P., Lombardo, B. (2007). Minerali del Piemonte e della Valle d\'Aosta. Associazione Amici del Museo \"F. Eusebio\" Alba, Ed., Alba (Cuneo) 607 pp.]
  		•  Talc
    Mg
     
    3
    		Si
     
    4
    		O
     
    10
    		(OH)
     
    2
    Reference: [MinRec 27:303]
  		•  Taramite
    Na[CaNa][Fe
    2+
    3
    		AlFe
    3+
     
    		][(OH)
     
    2
    		|Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    22
    		]
    Description: Ferro-alumino taramite. Taramite is a late-vein filling phase.
    Reference: [T. Hirajima and R. Compagnoni : "Petrology of a jadeite-quartz-almandine-phengite fels with retrograde ferro-nyböite from the Dora-Maira Massif, Western Alps", Eur. Journ. Mineral., 1993, 5, pp 943-955.]
  		•  Vermiculite
    (Mg,Fe,Al)
     
    3
    		(Al,Si)
     
    4
    		O
     
    10
    		(OH)
     
    2
    		·4H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [MinRec 27:303]
  		•  Wagnerite
    (Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		[F|PO
     
    4
    		]
    Reference: [MinRec 27:303]
  		•  Zircon
    Zr[SiO
     
    4
    		]
    Reference: [MinRec 27:303]


    53 entries listed. 44 valid minerals. 5 type localities (valid minerals).

    Localities in this Region:
    Italy
     
    • Piedmont
      • Cuneo Province
        • Dora Maira Massif
          • Po Valley
            • Oncino
            • Brossasco
            • Sampeyre
            • Venasca
              • Isasca valley

    The above list contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database!
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