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Emerald deposit, Leckbachgraben (Leckbachrinne), Nasenkopf Mt., Habach Valley, Hohe Tauern Mts, Salzburg, Austria

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(Smaragdlagerstätte, Leckbachgraben (Leckbachrinne), Nasenkopf, Habachtal, Hohe Tauern, Salzburg, Österreich)

Layer of talc-actinolite schists with inclusions of blastomylonitic rocks (serpentinites and talc schists) and emerald-bearing biotite-chlorite schists, intercalated between scheelite-bearing banded gneisses (including Cu, Fe and Bi sulphides) and amphibolites of the Habach formation. This association of rocks trends from the Hollersbach valley in the east to the Untersulzbach valley in the west, and meanwhile emeralds were also found in its outcrops in the neighbouring valleys.

An emerald mine was first mentioned in 1797, but the deposit was probably worked much earlier. The present mine with its four adits (named A, B , C and D adit) was started in 1860, by the jeweller Samuel Goldschmiedt of Vienna. In 1896 the lease was taken over by the "Emerald Mines Ltd." of London., who worked the deposit until 1913. During the following years, the mine was intermittently worked by different owners until 1949, when it was abandoned. Since 1964, it is privately owned, but worked only sporadically. Presently (2008), it is owned by the strahler Andreas Steiner of Bramberg.
In general, the emeralds are of rather low quality; specimens suited for cutting are rarely found. They usually contain inclusions of a wide variety of minerals. In fact, many of the minerals listed here were only found as inclusions in emeralds.



References:
- Exel, R. (1993): Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs.
- Groat, L.A., Giuliani, G., Marshall, D.D., and Turner, D. (2008): Emerald deposits and occurrences: A review. Ore Geology Reviews 34, 87-112.




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


Mineral List:
  		•  Actinolite
    ☐Ca
     
    2
    		(Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    5
    		(Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    22
    		)(OH)
     
    2
    Reference: [R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)]
  		•  Actinolite
    var: Smaragdite
    Ca
     
    2
    		(Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    5
    		Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    22
    		(OH)
     
    2
    Reference: [H Neutkens collection]
    Site Photo
    Emerald deposit, Leckbachgraben (Leckbachrinne), Nasenkopf Mt., Habach Valley, Hohe Tauern Mts, Salzburg, Austria
    © Harjo
  		•  'Adularia'
    KAlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Aeschynite-(Y)
    (Y,Ca,Fe,Th)(Ti,Nb)
     
    2
    		(O,OH)
     
    6
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Albite
    Na[AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Albite
    var: Oligoclase
    (Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    Reference: [R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)]
  		•  'Albite-Anorthite Series'
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  'Allanite'
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Anatase
    TiO
     
    2
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Ankerite
    Ca(Fe
    2+
     
    		 ,Mg,Mn
    2+
     
    		)(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Antigorite
    (Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    4
    		|Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    5
    		]
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  'Apatite'
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Aschamalmite ?
    Pb
     
    6
    		Bi
     
    2
    		S
     
    9
    Reference: [C Mavris collection, not analyzed]
  		•  Beryl
    Be
     
    3
    		Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    18
    Reference: [R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)]
    Site Photo
    Emerald deposit, Leckbachgraben (Leckbachrinne), Nasenkopf Mt., Habach Valley, Hohe Tauern Mts, Salzburg, Austria
    © RK
  		•  Beryl
    var: Aquamarine
    Be
     
    3
    		Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    18
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
    Site Photo
    Emerald deposit, Leckbachgraben (Leckbachrinne), Nasenkopf Mt., Habach Valley, Hohe Tauern Mts, Salzburg, Austria
    © Harjo
  		•  Beryl
    var: Emerald
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
    Site Photo
    Emerald deposit, Leckbachgraben (Leckbachrinne), Nasenkopf Mt., Habach Valley, Hohe Tauern Mts, Salzburg, Austria
    © Harjo
  		•  Biotite
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Brannerite
    (U
    4+
     
    		,Ca)(Ti,Fe
    3+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Brookite
    TiO
     
    2
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Calcite
    CaCO
     
    3
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Cassiterite
    SnO
     
    2
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Chalcopyrite
    CuFeS
     
    2
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  'Chlorite Group'
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Chromite
    FeCr
     
    2
    		O
     
    4
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Chrysoberyl
    BeAl
     
    2
    		O
     
    4
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Clinozoisite
    {Ca
     
    2
    		}{Al
     
    3
    		}[O|OH|SiO
     
    4
    		|Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    7
    		]
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Covellite
    CuS
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Cubanite
    CuFe
     
    2
    		S
     
    3
    Reference: [R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)]
  		•  Dolomite
    CaMg(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Dravite
    [Na][Mg
     
    3
    		][Al
     
    6
    		][(OH)
     
    3
    		|OH|(BO
     
    3
    		)
     
    3
    		|Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    18
    		]
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Epidote
    {Ca
     
    2
    		}{Al
     
    2
    		Fe
    3+
     
    		}[O|OH|SiO
     
    4
    		|Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    7
    		]
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Ferrimolybdite ?
    Fe
     
    2
    		[MoO
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
    		 · nH
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  'Gadolinite'
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Gadolinite-(Ce)
    (Ce,La,Nd,Y)
     
    2
    		Fe
    2+
     
    		Be
     
    2
    		[O|SiO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    Reference: [R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)]
  		•  'Garnet Group'
    X
     
    3
    		Z
     
    2
    		(TO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		 (X = Ca, Fe, etc·, Z = Al, Cr, etc·, T = Si, As, V)
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Goethite
    α-Fe
    3+
     
    		O(OH)
    Reference: [R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)]
  		•  Gold
    Au
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Graphite
    C
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Hercynite
    var: Picotite
    (Fe,Mg)(Al,Cr)
     
    2
    		O
     
    4
    Reference: [R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)]
  		•  Ilmenite
    Fe
    2+
     
    		TiO
     
    3
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Mackinawite
    (Fe,Ni)
     
    9
    		S
     
    8
    Reference: [R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)]
  		•  Magnesite
    MgCO
     
    3
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Magnetite
    Fe
    2+
     
    		Fe
    3+
    2
    		O
     
    4
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Malachite
    Cu
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|CO
     
    3
    		]
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Marcasite
    FeS
     
    2
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Margarite
    CaAl
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    10
    		]
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Margarite
    var: Beryllian Margarite
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Microcline
    K[AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    Reference: [R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)]
  		•  Milarite
    K
     
    2
    		Ca
     
    4
    		Al
     
    2
    		Be
     
    4
    		Si
     
    24
    		O
     
    60
    		·H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Molybdenite
    MoS
     
    2
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  'Monazite'
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Muscovite
    var: Barian Muscovite
    (K,Ba)(Al,Mg)
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		]
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Muscovite
    var: Fuchsite
    K(Al,Cr)
     
    3
    		Si
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		(OH)
     
    2
    Reference: [R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)]
  		•  Opal
    var: Opal-AN
    SiO
     
    2
    		·nH
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Pentlandite
    (Fe,Ni)
     
    9
    		S
     
    8
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Phenakite
    Be
     
    2
    		[SiO
     
    4
    		]
    Reference: [Min.Rec.:20(5):351-354.]
    Site Photo
    Emerald deposit, Leckbachgraben (Leckbachrinne), Nasenkopf Mt., Habach Valley, Hohe Tauern Mts, Salzburg, Austria
    © mslama
  		•  Phlogopite
    KMg
     
    3
    		[(OH,F)
     
    2
    		|AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		]
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Pyrite
    FeS
     
    2
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
    Site Photo
    Emerald deposit, Leckbachgraben (Leckbachrinne), Nasenkopf Mt., Habach Valley, Hohe Tauern Mts, Salzburg, Austria
    © Harjo
  		•  Pyrrhotite
    Fe
     
    7
    		S
     
    8
    		, (-4M), also given as Fe
     
    1-x
    		S (x = 0 - 0.2)
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Quartz
    SiO
     
    2
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Quartz
    var: Capped Quartz
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Rutile
    TiO
     
    2
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Scheelite
    Ca[WO
     
    4
    		]
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Scheelite
    var: Molybdoscheelite
    Reference: [R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)]
  		•  Schorl
    [Na][Fe
    2+
    3
    		][Al
     
    6
    		][(OH)
     
    3
    		|OH|(BO
     
    3
    		)
     
    3
    		|Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    18
    		]
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Stibnite
    Sb
     
    2
    		S
     
    3
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Talc
    Mg
     
    3
    		Si
     
    4
    		O
     
    10
    		(OH)
     
    2
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Titanite
    CaTi[O|SiO
     
    4
    		]
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Tremolite
    ☐[Ca
     
    2
    		][Mg
     
    5
    		][(OH)
     
    2
    		|Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    22
    		]
    Reference: [R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)]
  		•  Uraninite
    UO
     
    2
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Xenotime-(Y)
    YPO
     
    4
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Zircon
    Zr[SiO
     
    4
    		]
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]
  		•  Zoisite
    {Ca
     
    2
    		}{Al
     
    3
    		}[O|OH|SiO
     
    4
    		|Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    7
    		]
    Reference: [A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)]


    73 entries listed. 53 valid minerals.

    Localities in this Region:
    Austria
     
    • Salzburg
      • Hohe Tauern Mts
        • Habach valley
          • Nasenkopf Mt.
            • Leckbachgraben (Leckbachrinne)
              • Emerald deposit

    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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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 22nd Nov 2009 18:25:42