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Vallalta Mine, Gosaldo, Belluno Province, Veneto, Italy i
Regional Level Types
Vallalta Mine Mine (Abandoned)
Gosaldo Commune
Belluno Province Province
Veneto Region
Italy Country

Regional Level Types
Vallalta Mine	Mine (Abandoned)
Gosaldo	Commune
Belluno Province	Province
Veneto	Region
Italy	Country

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Pezzea stream, the boundary between Belluno and Trento Province, near Vallalta mine

Vallalta Mine, Gosaldo, Belluno Province, Veneto, Italy

Vallalta gallery

Vallalta Mine, Gosaldo, Belluno Province, Veneto, Italy

O'Conor gallery

Vallalta Mine, Gosaldo, Belluno Province, Veneto, Italy

Pezzea stream, the boundary between Belluno and Trento Province, near Vallalta mine

Vallalta Mine, Gosaldo, Belluno Province, Veneto, Italy

Vallalta gallery

Vallalta Mine, Gosaldo, Belluno Province, Veneto, Italy

O'Conor gallery

Vallalta Mine, Gosaldo, Belluno Province, Veneto, Italy

Pezzea stream, the boundary between Belluno and Trento Province, near Vallalta mine

Vallalta Mine, Gosaldo, Belluno Province, Veneto, Italy

Vallalta gallery

Vallalta Mine, Gosaldo, Belluno Province, Veneto, Italy

Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):

46° 11' 38'' North , 11° 57' 44'' East

Latitude & Longitude (decimal):

46.19410,11.96225

GRN:

N31E07

Type:

Mine (Abandoned) - last checked 2025

Deposit first discovered:

1850

Köppen climate type:

ET : Tundra

Nearest Settlements:

Place	Population	Distance
Sagron Mis	207 (2012)	1.5km
Mis	101 (2014)	2.9km
Don	221 (2014)	3.1km
Gosaldo	884 (2012)	3.1km
Villa Sant'Andrea	157 (2014)	3.6km

Mindat Locality ID:

249059

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:2:249059:8

GUID (UUID V4):

Other Languages:

Italian:

Miniera di Vallalta, Gosaldo, Provincia di Belluno, Veneto, Italia

Old abandoned Hg mine, near the mining village of California, destroyed by a flood in November 1966.

The mine, located on the right bank of Pezzea stream, is part of the larger Vallalta-Sagrón mercury deposit which extends also to the left bank of the same stream (Sagrón Mine, Sagron Mis, Trento autonomous province, Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol [County of Tyrol, Austrian Empire until 1867 and Austro-Hungarian Empire from 1867 to 1918]).
Vallalta mine was exploited from the middle of the 18th century to 1879, and in the periods 1920-1923 and 1958-1962. It was developed on 14 levels, between the levels 816 and 616. In 1852, the O'Conor or O'Connor adit (767 m) was excavated by the company Società Veneta Montanistica to reach the main ore body.

Cinnabar crystals are very rare. Cinnabar usually appears as fine pure grains with vermillion colour and metallic lustre (the old miners called this variety "Stahlerz", i.e., steel ore), very fine pure grains with purplish-red colour and metallic lustre (the old miners called this variety "Lebererz", i.e., liver ore), and earthy brick-red masses, containing mica, quartz and gypsum as impurities (the old miners called this variety "Ziegelerz", i.e., brick ore). Cinnabar is tipically associated with calcite, and sometimes with baryte, quartz, gypsum, and chlorite. Mercury droplets have been found on cinnabar and very rarely on gypsum.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List

17 valid minerals.

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Baryte

Formula: BaSO₄

References:

Jervis, Guglielmo (1873) I tesori sotterranei dell'Italia descrizione topografica e geologica di tutte le localita nel Regno d'Italia [The underground treasures of Italy topographical and geological description of all the locations in the Kingdom of Italy] Vol. 1 - Regione Della Alpi.

Taramelli, T. (1883) Note illustrative alla Carta geologica della provincia di Belluno rilevata negli anni 1877-81. Tipografia Fratelli Fusi, Pavia, 218 pp.

Baccos, F. (1967) Osservazioni geologico-minerarie e genetiche sui giacimenti cinabriferi di Vallalta (Alpi Dolomitiche) e di Bagnore (Monte Amiata). Atti della Giornata di Studi Geominerari, Agordo, 7 ottobre 1967. Centenario dell'Istituto Tecnico Industriale Minerario Statale "U. Follador", Agordo (BL). Arti Grafiche Saturnia, Trento, 67-112

Giordano, D. (2008) Dolomiti di cristallo. Minerali e mineralogia nell’Agordino. Gruppo Agordino Mineralogico Paleontologico, Agordo (Belluno) - Grafiche Antiga, Crocetta del Montello (Treviso), 222 pp.

Giordano, D. (2014) Provincia di Belluno. In: Zorzi, F., and Boscardin, M. (eds.), Minerali del Veneto. Alla scoperta dei tesori della nostra regione. Museo di Storia Naturale e Archeologia di Montebelluna (Treviso) - Cierre Edizioni, Sommacampagna (Verona), pages 93-119.

ⓘ 'Biotite'

Formula: K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂

References:

ⓘ Calcite

Formula: CaCO₃

References:

vom Rath, G. (1864) Ueber die Quecksilber-Grube Vallalta in den Venetianischen Alpen. Zeitschrift der Deutschen Geologischen Gesellschaft, Bd. 16, 121-135

Rzehak, A. (1905) Die Zinnoberlagerstätte von Vallalta-Sagron. Zeitschrift für praktische Geologie, 13, 325-330

Del Caldo, A.; Moro, C.; Gramaccioli, C.M.; Boscardin, M. (1973) Guida ai minerali. Fratelli Fabbri Editori. 208 pp.

ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'

References:

vom Rath, G. (1864) Ueber die Quecksilber-Grube Vallalta in den Venetianischen Alpen. Zeitschrift der Deutschen Geologischen Gesellschaft, Bd. 16, 121-135

ⓘ Cinnabar

Formula: HgS

References:

Corniani degli Algarotti, M.A. (1823) Dello stabilimento delle miniere e relative fabbriche nel distretto di Agordo. Francesco Andreola, Venezia, 477 pp.

Haton, N. (1855) Mémoire sur les etablissements d'Agordo (Haute-Vénétie). Annales des Mines, série 5, 8, 407-493.

Trinker, J. (1858) Die Entstehung und der erste Aufschwung der Quecksilber-Grube Vallalta bei Agordo. Jahrbuch der Kaiserlich Königlichen Geologischen Reichsanstalt, 9, 442-444

vom Rath, G. (1864) Ueber die Quecksilber-Grube Vallalta in den Venetianischen Alpen. Zeitschrift der Deutschen Geologischen Gesellschaft, Bd. 16, 121-135

De Manzoni, G.A. (1871) Note sullo stabilimento montanistico di Vallalta. Tipografia del Commercio di Marco Visentini, Venezia, 29 pp.

Taramelli, T. (1883) Note illustrative alla Carta geologica della provincia di Belluno rilevata negli anni 1877-81. Tipografia Fratelli Fusi, Pavia, 218 pp.

Rzehak, A. (1905) Die Zinnoberlagerstätte von Vallalta-Sagron. Zeitschrift für praktische Geologie, 13, 325-330

Savoia U. (1919) Le miniere cinabrifere italiane. La Miniera Italiana, 3, 233-248

Moretti, E. (1931) Le miniere di mercurio di Vallalta e Sagron in territorio di Gosaldo (Belluno) e di Sagron (Trento). L'Industria Mineraria, 5, 1, 13-20

Baccos, F. (1966) Osservazioni geologico-minerarie sui giacimento cinabrifero di Vallalta (Alpi Dolomitiche). In: Atti del Symposium Internazionale sui Giacimenti Minerari delle Alpi, Trento-Mendola, 11-18 settembre 1966. Regione Trentino-Alto Adige e CCIA, Arti Grafiche Saturnia, Trento, Volume 3, pages 717-768

Fellerer, R. (1970) Lagerstätten und Mineralisationen am Südrand der Pala-Gruppe zwischen Passo Cereda-Vallalta-Agordo (Dolomiten). In Perna, G. (ed.), L’Industria Mineraria nel Trentino-Alto Adige. Arti Grafiche Saturnia, Trento, volume 3, pages 99-114

Del Caldo, A.; Moro, C.; Gramaccioli, C.M.; Boscardin, M. (1973) Guida ai minerali. Fratelli Fabbri Editori. 208 pp.

Caneve, L. (1991) Storia delle miniere e della distillazione del mercurio a Vallalta (Agordino). Le Dolomiti Bellunesi, XI, 20, 46-59

ⓘ Fluorite

Formula: CaF₂

References:

Taramelli, T. (1883) Note illustrative alla Carta geologica della provincia di Belluno rilevata negli anni 1877-81. Tipografia Fratelli Fusi, Pavia, 218 pp.

ⓘ Goethite

Formula: Fe³⁺O(OH)

References:

Del Caldo, A.; Moro, C.; Gramaccioli, C.M.; Boscardin, M. (1973) Guida ai minerali. Fratelli Fabbri Editori. 208 pp.

ⓘ Gypsum

Formula: CaSO₄ · 2H₂O

References:

Trinker, J. (1858) Die Entstehung und der erste Aufschwung der Quecksilber-Grube Vallalta bei Agordo. Jahrbuch der Kaiserlich Königlichen Geologischen Reichsanstalt, 9, 442-444

vom Rath, G. (1864) Ueber die Quecksilber-Grube Vallalta in den Venetianischen Alpen. Zeitschrift der Deutschen Geologischen Gesellschaft, Bd. 16, 121-135

Taramelli, T. (1883) Note illustrative alla Carta geologica della provincia di Belluno rilevata negli anni 1877-81. Tipografia Fratelli Fusi, Pavia, 218 pp.

Rzehak, A. (1905) Die Zinnoberlagerstätte von Vallalta-Sagron. Zeitschrift für praktische Geologie, 13, 325-330

Del Caldo, A.; Moro, C.; Gramaccioli, C.M.; Boscardin, M. (1973) Guida ai minerali. Fratelli Fabbri Editori. 208 pp.

ⓘ Hematite

Formula: Fe₂O₃

References:

ⓘ 'Limonite'

References:

Del Caldo, A.; Moro, C.; Gramaccioli, C.M.; Boscardin, M. (1973) Guida ai minerali. Fratelli Fabbri Editori. 208 pp.

ⓘ Marcasite

Formula: FeS₂

References:

Del Caldo, A.; Moro, C.; Gramaccioli, C.M.; Boscardin, M. (1973) Guida ai minerali. Fratelli Fabbri Editori. 208 pp.

ⓘ Metacinnabar

Formula: HgS

References:

ⓘ Muscovite

Formula: KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂

References:

ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite

Formula: KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂

References:

ⓘ Native Gold

Formula: Au

References:

ⓘ Native Mercury

Formula: Hg

References:

Taramelli, T. (1883) Note illustrative alla Carta geologica della provincia di Belluno rilevata negli anni 1877-81. Tipografia Fratelli Fusi, Pavia, 218 pp.

Del Caldo, A.; Moro, C.; Gramaccioli, C.M.; Boscardin, M. (1973) Guida ai minerali. Fratelli Fabbri Editori. 208 pp.

ⓘ Orpiment

Formula: As₂S₃

References:

ⓘ Pararealgar

Formula: As₄S₄

References:

ⓘ Pyrite

Formula: FeS₂

References:

Trinker, J. (1858) Die Entstehung und der erste Aufschwung der Quecksilber-Grube Vallalta bei Agordo. Jahrbuch der Kaiserlich Königlichen Geologischen Reichsanstalt, 9, 442-444

vom Rath, G. (1864) Ueber die Quecksilber-Grube Vallalta in den Venetianischen Alpen. Zeitschrift der Deutschen Geologischen Gesellschaft, Bd. 16, 121-135

Taramelli, T. (1883) Note illustrative alla Carta geologica della provincia di Belluno rilevata negli anni 1877-81. Tipografia Fratelli Fusi, Pavia, 218 pp.

Del Caldo, A.; Moro, C.; Gramaccioli, C.M.; Boscardin, M. (1973) Guida ai minerali. Fratelli Fabbri Editori. 208 pp.

ⓘ Quartz

Formula: SiO₂

References:

vom Rath, G. (1864) Ueber die Quecksilber-Grube Vallalta in den Venetianischen Alpen. Zeitschrift der Deutschen Geologischen Gesellschaft, Bd. 16, 121-135

Taramelli, T. (1883) Note illustrative alla Carta geologica della provincia di Belluno rilevata negli anni 1877-81. Tipografia Fratelli Fusi, Pavia, 218 pp.

Rzehak, A. (1905) Die Zinnoberlagerstätte von Vallalta-Sagron. Zeitschrift für praktische Geologie, 13, 325-330

ⓘ Realgar

Formula: As₄S₄

References:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘ	Native Gold	1.AA.05	Au
ⓘ	Native Mercury	1.AD.05	Hg
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘ	Metacinnabar	2.CB.05a	HgS
ⓘ	Cinnabar	2.CD.15a	HgS
ⓘ	Pyrite	2.EB.05a	FeS₂
ⓘ	Marcasite	2.EB.10a	FeS₂
ⓘ	Realgar	2.FA.15a	As₄S₄
ⓘ	Pararealgar	2.FA.15b	As₄S₄
ⓘ	Orpiment	2.FA.30	As₂S₃
Group 3 - Halides
ⓘ	Fluorite	3.AB.25	CaF₂
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘ	Goethite	4.00.	Fe³⁺O(OH)
ⓘ	Hematite	4.CB.05	Fe₂O₃
ⓘ	Quartz	4.DA.05	SiO₂
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘ	Calcite	5.AB.05	CaCO₃
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘ	Baryte	7.AD.35	BaSO₄
ⓘ	Gypsum	7.CD.40	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘ	Muscovite	9.EC.15	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
ⓘ	var. Sericite	9.EC.15	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Unclassified
ⓘ	'Biotite'	-	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
ⓘ	'Chlorite Group'	-
ⓘ	'Limonite'	-

List of minerals for each chemical element

H	Hydrogen
H	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
H	ⓘ Goethite	Fe³⁺O(OH)
H	ⓘ Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
H	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
H	ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
C	Carbon
C	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
O	Oxygen
O	ⓘ Baryte	BaSO₄
O	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
O	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
O	ⓘ Goethite	Fe³⁺O(OH)
O	ⓘ Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
O	ⓘ Hematite	Fe₂O₃
O	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
O	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
O	ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
F	Fluorine
F	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
F	ⓘ Fluorite	CaF₂
Mg	Magnesium
Mg	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
Al	Aluminium
Al	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
Al	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Al	ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Si	Silicon
Si	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
Si	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Si	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
Si	ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
S	Sulfur
S	ⓘ Baryte	BaSO₄
S	ⓘ Cinnabar	HgS
S	ⓘ Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
S	ⓘ Marcasite	FeS₂
S	ⓘ Metacinnabar	HgS
S	ⓘ Orpiment	As₂S₃
S	ⓘ Pararealgar	As₄S₄
S	ⓘ Pyrite	FeS₂
S	ⓘ Realgar	As₄S₄
K	Potassium
K	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
K	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
K	ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Ca	Calcium
Ca	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
Ca	ⓘ Fluorite	CaF₂
Ca	ⓘ Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
Ti	Titanium
Ti	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
Fe	Iron
Fe	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
Fe	ⓘ Goethite	Fe³⁺O(OH)
Fe	ⓘ Hematite	Fe₂O₃
Fe	ⓘ Marcasite	FeS₂
Fe	ⓘ Pyrite	FeS₂
As	Arsenic
As	ⓘ Orpiment	As₂S₃
As	ⓘ Pararealgar	As₄S₄
As	ⓘ Realgar	As₄S₄
Ba	Barium
Ba	ⓘ Baryte	BaSO₄
Au	Gold
Au	ⓘ Native Gold	Au
Hg	Mercury
Hg	ⓘ Cinnabar	HgS
Hg	ⓘ Native Mercury	Hg
Hg	ⓘ Metacinnabar	HgS

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

Eurasian PlateTectonic Plate

DinaridesAccretionary Complex

EuropeContinent

The AlpsMountain Range

Italy

DolomitesMountain Range
- Vallalta-Sagrón mercury deposit (Vallalta-Sagrón cinnabar deposit)Deposit

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References