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Varenche Mine, Saint-Barthélemy, Nus, Aosta Valley, Italy

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(Miniera di Varenche, Saint-Barthélemy, Nus, Valle d'Aosta, Italia)

Old Mn mine opened in jasper.

The metasedimentary rocks at Varenche probably form part of the Combin Unit, a composite nappe made up of calcschists, MORB-type metabasalts and metagabbros, serpentinites and pelagic (partly manganesiferous) metasediments, which were metamorphosed at greenschist facies conditions. The highly oxidized Mn-rich rocks consist mainly of varicolored spessartine-hematite quartzites and braunite- and spessartine-bearing rocks, with variable proportions of rhodochrosite, "crossite"-magnesioriebeckite, phlogopite, clinochlore, talc, Na-bearing pyroxene, rutile and barite, and uncommon minerals such as ardennite, arseniopleite, manganberzeliite, thortveitite.




References:
- Pagani, G. (1973): Località mineralogiche consigliate. Varanche - St. Barthelemy (Lignan - Aosta). Notiziario del Gruppo Mineralogico Lombardo, 4, 82-84.
- Baldelli C., Dal Piaz G.V. & Polino R. (1983): Le quarziti a manganese e cromo di Varenche-St. Barthélemy, una sequenza di copertura oceanica della falda piemontese. Ofioliti 8, 207-221. (in Italian)
- Pasero, M., Reinecke, T., Fransolet, A.-M. (1994): Crystal structure refinements and compositional control of Mn-Mg-Ca ardennites from the Belgian Ardennes, Greece and the Western Alps. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Abhandlungen, 166, 137-167.
- Bonazzi P., Menchetti S., Reinecke T., 1996. Solid solution between piemontite and androsite-(La), a new mineral of the epidote group from Andros Island, Greece. American Mineralogist, 81, 735-742.
- Barresi, A.A., Kolitsch, U., Ciriotti, M.E., Ambrino, P., Bracco, R., Bonacina, E. (2005): La miniera di manganese di Varenche (Aosta, Italia nord-occidentale): ardennite, arseniopleite, manganberzeliite, pirofanite, sarkinite, thortveitite, nuovo As-Sc-analogo della metavariscite e altre specie. Micro (località), 2/2005, 81-122.
- Barresi, A.A., Kolitsch, U., Ciriotti, M.E., Ambrino, P., Bracco, R., Bonacina, E. (2007): Errata corrige: Varenche. Micro (località), 1/2007, 180-180.
- Barresi, A., Orlandi, P., Pasero, M. (2007): History of ardennite and the new mineral ardennite-(V). European Journal of Mineralogy, 19, 581-587.
- 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.




Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
  		• Chalcopyrite2.CB.10a
    CuFeS
     
    2
  		• Covellite2.CA.05a
    CuS
  		• Djurleite2.BA.05
    Cu
     
    31
    		S
     
    16
  		• Pyrite2.EB.05a
    FeS
     
    2
  		• Sphalerite2.CB.05a
    (Zn,Fe
    2+
     
    		)S
    Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
  		• Birnessite4.FL.45
    (Na,Ca)
     
    0.5
    		(Mn
    4+
     
    		,Mn
    3+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		O
     
    4
    		 · 1.5H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Cryptomelane4.DK.10
    K(Mn
    4+
     
    		,Mn
    2+
     
    		)
     
    8
    		O
     
    16
  		• Hematite4.CB.05
    Fe
     
    2
    		O
     
    3
  		• Magnetite4.BB.05
    Fe
    2+
     
    		Fe
    3+
    2
    		O
     
    4
  		• Pyrolusite4.DB.05
    MnO
     
    2
  		• Pyrophanite4.CB.05
    Mn
    2+
     
    		TiO
     
    3
  		• Quartz4.DA.05
    SiO
     
    2
  		• Ranciéite4.FL.40
    (Ca,Mn)Mn
     
    4
    		O
     
    9
    		·3H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Rutile4.DB.05
    TiO
     
    2
  		• Todorokite4.DK.10
    (Ca,K,Na,Mg,Ba,Mn)(Mn,Mg,Al)
     
    6
    		O
     
    12
    		·3H
     
    2
    		O
    Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
  		• Aragonite5.AB.15
    CaCO
     
    3
  		• Azurite5.BA.05
    Cu
     
    3
    		[OH|CO
     
    3
    		]
     
    2
  		• Calcite5.AB.05
    CaCO
     
    3
  		• Dolomite5.AB.10
    CaMg(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
  		• Kutnohorite5.AB.10
    Ca(Mn,Mg,Fe)(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
  		• Malachite5.BA.10
    Cu
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|CO
     
    3
    		]
  		• Rhodochrosite5.AB.05
    MnCO
     
    3
  		• Siderite5.AB.05
    FeCO
     
    3
    Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
  		• Baryte7.AD.35
    BaSO
     
    4
  		• Brochantite7.BB.25
    Cu
     
    4
    		[(OH)
     
    6
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
    Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
  		• Apatite-(CaOH)8.BN.05
    Ca
     
    5
    		[OH|(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
  		• Arseniopleite8.AC.10
    NaCaMn
    2+
     
    		(Mn
    2+
     
    		,Mg)
     
    2
    		(AsO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
  		• Manganberzeliite8.AC.25
    (Ca,Na)
     
    3
    		(Mn
    2+
     
    		,Mg)
     
    2
    		[AsO
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
  		• Pyromorphite8.BN.05
    Pb
     
    5
    		[Cl|(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
  		• Sarkinite8.BB.15
    Mn
    2+
    2
    		[OH|AsO
     
    4
    		]
  		• Tilasite8.BH.10
    CaMg[F|AsO
     
    4
    		]
  		• UM2005-02-AsO:AlHPScSi8.CD.05
    ScAsO
     
    4
    		·2H
     
    2
    		O
    Group 9 - Silicates
  		• Actinolite9.DE.10
    ☐Ca
     
    2
    		(Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    5
    		(Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    22
    		)(OH)
     
    2
  		• Aegirine9.DA.25
    NaFe
    3+
     
    		[Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    		]
  		• Albite9.FA.35
    Na[AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		]
  		• Almandine9.AD.25
    Fe
    2+
    3
    		Al
     
    2
    		[SiO
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
  		• Ardennite-(As)9.BJ.40
    Mn
    2+
    4
    		[(Al,Mg)
     
    6
    		][(OH)
     
    6
    		|(AsO
     
    4
    		,VO
     
    4
    		)|(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		|Si
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		]
  		• Ardennite-(V)9.BJ.40
    Mn
    2+
    4
    		[Al
     
    4
    		(Mg,Al,Fe
    3+
     
    		,Mn
    3+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		][(OH)
     
    6
    		|(VO
     
    4
    		,SiO
     
    4
    		)|(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		|Si
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		]
  		• Axinite-(Fe)9.BD.20
    Ca
     
    2
    		Fe
    2+
     
    		Al
     
    2
    		[OH|BSi
     
    4
    		O
     
    15
    		]
  		• Braunite9.AG.05
    Mn
    2+
     
    		Mn
    3+
    6
    		[O
     
    8
    		|SiO
     
    4
    		]
  		• Celadonite9.EC.15
    K(Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)(Fe
    3+
     
    		,Al)[(OH)
     
    2
    		|Si
     
    4
    		O
     
    10
    		]
  		• Chloritoid9.AF.85
    (Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mg,Mn
    2+
     
    		)Al
     
    2
    		[O|(OH)
     
    2
    		|SiO
     
    4
    		]
  		• Chrysotile9.ED.15
    Mg
     
    3
    		Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    5
    		(OH)
     
    4
  		• Clinochlore9.EC.55
    (Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    5
    		Al[(OH)
     
    8
    		|AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		]
  		• Clinozoisite9.BG.05
    {Ca
     
    2
    		}{Al
     
    3
    		}[O|OH|SiO
     
    4
    		|Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    7
    		]
  		• Danburite9.FA.65
    CaB
     
    2
    		Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
  		• Eckermannite9.DE.25
    [Na][Na
     
    2
    		][(Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    4
    		Al][(OH)
     
    2
    		|Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    22
    		]
  		• Epidote9.BG.05
    {Ca
     
    2
    		}{Al
     
    2
    		Fe
    3+
     
    		}[O|OH|SiO
     
    4
    		|Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    7
    		]
  		• Ferro-eckermannite9.DE.25
    [Na][Na
     
    2
    		][(Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mg)
     
    4
    		Al][(OH)
     
    2
    		|Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    22
    		]
  		• Glaucophane9.DE.25
    [ ][Na
     
    2
    		][Mg
     
    3
    		Al
     
    2
    		][(OH)
     
    2
    		|Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    22
    		]
  		• Grossular9.AD.25
    Ca
     
    3
    		Al
     
    2
    		[SiO
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
  		• Hydroxylclinohumite9.AF.55
    Mg
     
    9
    		[(OH,F)
     
    2
    		|(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    4
    		]
  		• Jadeite9.DA.25
    Na(Al,Fe
    3+
     
    		)[Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    		]
  		• Magnesioriebeckite9.DE.25
    [ ][Na
     
    2
    		][Mg
     
    3
    		Fe
    3+
    2
    		][(OH)
     
    2
    		|Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    22
    		]
  		• Manganiandrosite-(Ce) ?9.BG.05
    (Mn
    2+
     
    		,Ca)(Ce,REE)Mn
    3+
     
    		AlMn
    2+
     
    		(Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    7
    		)(SiO
     
    4
    		)O(OH)
  		• Muscovite9.EC.15
    KAl
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		]
      var: Alurgite9.EC.15
    K
     
    2
    		(Mg,Al)
     
    4-5
    		(Al,Si)
     
    8
    		O
     
    20
    		(OH)
     
    4
      var: Fuchsite9.EC.15
    K(Al,Cr)
     
    3
    		Si
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		(OH)
     
    2
  		• Neotocite9.ED.20
    (Mn,Fe,Mg)SiO
     
    3
    		·H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Orthoclase9.FA.30
    K[AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		]
  		• Parvowinchite9.DE.20
    ☐[Mn
    2+
     
    		Na][Mg
     
    4
    		(Al,Fe
    3+
     
    		)][(OH)
     
    2
    		|Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    22
    		]
  		• Phlogopite9.EC.20
    KMg
     
    3
    		[(OH,F)
     
    2
    		|AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		]
  		• Piemontite9.BG.05
    {Ca
     
    2
    		}{Al
     
    2
    		Mn
    3+
     
    		}[O|OH|SiO
     
    4
    		|Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    7
    		]
  		• Riebeckite9.DE.25
    [ ][Na
     
    2
    		][Fe
    2+
    3
    		Fe
    3+
    2
    		][(OH)
     
    2
    		|Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    22
    		]
  		• Saponite9.EC.45
    Ca
     
    0.25
    		(Mg,Fe)
     
    3
    		(Si,Al)
     
    4
    		O
     
    10
    		(OH)
     
    2
    		·nH
     
    2
    		O
  		• Spessartine9.AD.25
    Mn
    2+
    3
    		Al
     
    2
    		[SiO
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
  		• Sursassite9.BG.15
    Mn
     
    2
    		Al
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|SiO
     
    4
    		|Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    7
    		]
  		• Talc9.EC.05
    Mg
     
    3
    		Si
     
    4
    		O
     
    10
    		(OH)
     
    2
  		• Tephroite9.AC.05
    Mn
    2+
    2
    		[SiO
     
    4
    		]
  		• Thortveitite9.BC.05
    (Sc,Y)
     
    2
    		[Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    7
    		]
  		• Tremolite9.DE.10
    ☐[Ca
     
    2
    		][Mg
     
    5
    		][(OH)
     
    2
    		|Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    22
    		]
  		• Vesuvianite9.BG.35
    Ca
     
    10
    		(Mg,Fe)
     
    2
    		Al
     
    4
    		Si
     
    9
    		O
     
    34
    		(OH)
     
    4
    Unclassified Minerals
  		• Clinochrysotile-


    73 entries listed. 71 valid minerals.

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