Vesuvianite

specimen number:
2063090

location:
Bellecombe, Chatillon, Aosta Valley, Italy

description:
Lustrous dark crystals of vesuvianite measuring to 0.4 cm in size covering the top of matrix with minor rhombohedral crystals of calcite. In good condition.

Bellecombe, located in Chatillon within the Aosta Valley of Italy, is a renowned alpine locality celebrated in the history of mineral collecting for its exceptional rodingite and serpentinite-hosted mineral assemblages. Geologically, the area features specialized metamorphic environments where high-pressure and metasomatic processes within tectonic fault zones created narrow veins rich in calcium and aluminum. Rather than being a commercial metal mine, the site is famous among amateur and professional mineral collectors who carefully extract world-class mineral specimens from small pockets and fissures. The vesuvianite found at Bellecombe is especially prized by enthusiasts worldwide, typically occurring as sharp, highly lustrous, prismatic crystals ranging from deep bottle-green and olive-green to rich brown hues. These sought-after specimens often display remarkable transparency, complex parallel growths, and fine terminations that make them benchmark examples for alpine mineralogy.

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