Albite

specimen number:
9771509

location:
Fundres, Pfunders Valley, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy

description:
Colorless blocky lustrous crystals of albite averaging 0.5 cm in size covering the top of matrix. In good condition. Nice thumbnail for this European classic.

The geology of the Fundres Valley (Val di Fundres) in the South Tyrol region of northern Italy is characterized by the rugged crystalline basement rocks of the Austroalpine domain, primarily composed of ancient paragneisses, schists, and orthogneisses shaped by intense alpine tectonic activity. While large scale industrial mining was never a major economic driver here due to the remote and rugged terrain, the high altitude valleys and surrounding mountain groups have historically attracted local prospectors and mineral collectors searching alpine clefts. These fissures frequently yield well crystallized specimens of quartz, epidote, garnet, and other accessory silicate minerals typical of metamorphosed Alpine fracture systems. Today, the area is celebrated much more for its pristine alpine landscapes and hiking trails than for its minor historical mining endeavors.

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