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Mineralogical characterization of the gem-variety pink clinozoisite from Val Malenco, Central Alps, Italy

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Abstract

Val Malenco located in the Central Alps, Italy, is the source of a pink gem-variety clinozoisite better known in literature as “clinothulite” which stands for “monoclinic thulite”. “Thulite” is the obsolete name of the opaque pink Mn3+-bearing zoisite used as ornamental stone. In Val Malenco, the best-known occurrence of pink clinozoisite is the locality of Pizzo Tremogge, where the outcrop is enclosed in gneiss strictly associated with calcium silicate marbles of Paleozoic age. In this paper, we provide a characterization of this material by classical gemological methods, X-ray powder diffraction and microprobe chemical analyses. We also provide new data from another clinozoisite from the locality of Pra’ Isio (Valtellina) very close to Val Malenco. This clinozoisite has a similar pink hue, but shows a coarser grained texture that makes carving more difficult. The gemological properties, basic crystallographic data and chemical composition of the examined samples are consistent with those reported in literature for pink clinozoisite from other deposits of the world. The content of manganese is low (up to a maximum of 0.01 apfu), but still sufficient to give the mineral its characteristic and agreeable pink color.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Mr. Pietro Nana (Sondrio, Italy) for providing samples and useful information about the material investigated in this study. The manuscript benefited considerably from the critical reading of two anonymous reviewers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences “Ardito Desio”, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Rosangela Bocchio & Nicoletta Marinoni

  2. National Research Council - Institute for Dynamics of Environmental Processes (IDPA), Section of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Valeria Diella

  3. Italian Gemmological Institute (IGI), Milan, Italy

    Ilaria Adamo

Authors
  1. Rosangela Bocchio
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  2. Valeria Diella
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  3. Ilaria Adamo
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  4. Nicoletta Marinoni
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Correspondence to Valeria Diella.

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Bocchio, R., Diella, V., Adamo, I. et al. Mineralogical characterization of the gem-variety pink clinozoisite from Val Malenco, Central Alps, Italy. Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei 28, 549–557 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-017-0630-2

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