Located in the NE side of Monte Cucco, the cave consists of more than 25 km of large fossil rooms and tunnels developed in Jurassic carbonate rocks.

The main speleothems are formed of carbonate flowstone, microcrystalline gypsum, clay, jarosite, and fluoroapatite. Interesting solid solutions of goyazite-alunite-jarosite, hydroxylapatite-goyazite, and nanocrystals of leucophosphite are common in the fossil middle branches of the cave. Significant baryte deposits are known in this cave. Baryte occurs in association with fluorite; baryte is enriched in Sr, indicating a solid solution between baryte and celestine. In addition, baryte and fluorite deposits exhibit an altered appearance with rusty colours. Fluorite sometimes occurs as perfect cubes with weathered surfaces covered by fluorapatite-hydroxylapatite, gibbsite and/or goethite. Of significant interest for this cave is also the presence of magnetite and the assemblage of titanite-rutile crystals (D'Angeli et al., 2018).

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List

23 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

ⓘ Limestone

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Alunite

Formula: KAl₃(SO₄)₂(OH)₆

References:

D’Angeli, M.I., De Waele, J., Carbone, C., Parise, M., Madonia, G., and Vattano, M. (2017) Secondary minerals from Italian sulfuric acid caves. In: Moore, K., White, S. (eds.), Proceedings of the 17th International Congress of Speleology, Sidney, NSW, Australia, July 22-28, 2017. Australian Speleological Federation Inc., Sideney, Vol.1, 237-241

D'Angeli, I. M., Carbone, C., Nagostinis, M., Parise, M., Vattano, M., Madonia, G., and De Waele, J. (2018) New insights on secondary minerals from Italian sulfuric acid caves. International Journal of Speleology, 47, 3, 271-291.

ⓘ Baryte

Formula: BaSO₄

References:

ⓘ Calcite

Formula: CaCO₃

References:

Galdenzi, S., and Menichetti, M. (1995) Occurrence of hypogenic caves in a karst region: Examples from central Italy. Environmental Geology, 26, 39-47

ⓘ Celestine

Formula: SrSO₄

References:

ⓘ 'Clay minerals'

References:

Galdenzi, S., and Menichetti, M. (1995) Occurrence of hypogenic caves in a karst region: Examples from central Italy. Environmental Geology, 26, 39-47

ⓘ Fluorapatite

Formula: Ca₅(PO₄)₃F

References:

Galdenzi, S., and Menichetti, M. (1995) Occurrence of hypogenic caves in a karst region: Examples from central Italy. Environmental Geology, 26, 39-47

ⓘ Fluorite

Formula: CaF₂

References:

ⓘ Gibbsite

Formula: Al(OH)₃

References:

ⓘ Goethite

Formula: Fe³⁺O(OH)

References:

ⓘ Goyazite

Formula: SrAl₃(PO₄)(PO₃OH)(OH)₆

References:

ⓘ Gypsum

Formula: CaSO₄ · 2H₂O

References:

Galdenzi, S., and Menichetti, M. (1995) Occurrence of hypogenic caves in a karst region: Examples from central Italy. Environmental Geology, 26, 39-47

ⓘ Hexahydrite

Formula: MgSO₄ · 6H₂O

References:

ⓘ Hydrohalloysite

Formula: Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄ · 2H₂O

References:

ⓘ Hydrotalcite

Formula: Mg₆Al₂(CO₃)(OH)₁₆ · 4H₂O

References:

ⓘ Hydroxylapatite

Formula: Ca₅(PO₄)₃(OH)

References:

ⓘ Jarosite

Formula: KFe³⁺₃(SO₄)₂(OH)₆

References:

Galdenzi, S., and Menichetti, M. (1995) Occurrence of hypogenic caves in a karst region: Examples from central Italy. Environmental Geology, 26, 39-47

ⓘ Kaolinite

Formula: Al₂(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄

References:

ⓘ Leucophosphite

Formula: KFe³⁺₂(PO₄)₂(OH) · 2H₂O

References:

ⓘ Magnetite

Formula: Fe²⁺Fe³⁺₂O₄

References:

ⓘ Muscovite

Formula: KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂

References:

ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite

Formula: K_0.65Al_2.0[Al_0.65Si_3.35O₁₀](OH)₂

References:

ⓘ Native Sulphur

Formula: S₈

References:

ⓘ Quartz

Formula: SiO₂

References:

ⓘ Rutile

Formula: TiO₂

References:

ⓘ Titanite

Formula: CaTi(SiO₄)O

References:

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘ	Native Sulphur	1.CC.05	S₈
Group 3 - Halides
ⓘ	Fluorite	3.AB.25	CaF₂
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘ	Goethite	4.00.	Fe³⁺O(OH)
ⓘ	Magnetite	4.BB.05	Fe²⁺Fe³⁺₂O₄
ⓘ	Quartz	4.DA.05	SiO₂
ⓘ	Rutile	4.DB.05	TiO₂
ⓘ	Gibbsite	4.FE.10	Al(OH)₃
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘ	Calcite	5.AB.05	CaCO₃
ⓘ	Hydrotalcite	5.DA.50	Mg₆Al₂(CO₃)(OH)₁₆ · 4H₂O
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘ	Baryte	7.AD.35	BaSO₄
ⓘ	Celestine	7.AD.35	SrSO₄
ⓘ	Alunite	7.BC.10	KAl₃(SO₄)₂(OH)₆
ⓘ	Jarosite	7.BC.10	KFe³⁺₃(SO₄)₂(OH)₆
ⓘ	Hexahydrite	7.CB.25	MgSO₄ · 6H₂O
ⓘ	Gypsum	7.CD.40	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
ⓘ	Goyazite	8.BL.10	SrAl₃(PO₄)(PO₃OH)(OH)₆
ⓘ	Fluorapatite	8.BN.05	Ca₅(PO₄)₃F
ⓘ	Hydroxylapatite	8.BN.05	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(OH)
ⓘ	Leucophosphite	8.DH.10	KFe³⁺₂(PO₄)₂(OH) · 2H₂O
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘ	Titanite	9.AG.15	CaTi(SiO₄)O
ⓘ	Muscovite var. Illite	9.EC.15	K_0.65Al_2.0[Al_0.65Si_3.35O₁₀](OH)₂
ⓘ		9.EC.15	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
ⓘ	Kaolinite	9.ED.05	Al₂(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
ⓘ	Hydrohalloysite	9.ED.10	Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄ · 2H₂O
Unclassified
ⓘ	'Clay minerals'	-

List of minerals for each chemical element

H	Hydrogen
H	ⓘ Alunite	KAl₃(SO₄)₂(OH)₆
H	ⓘ Gibbsite	Al(OH)₃
H	ⓘ Goethite	Fe³⁺O(OH)
H	ⓘ Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
H	ⓘ Goyazite	SrAl₃(PO₄)(PO₃OH)(OH)₆
H	ⓘ Hexahydrite	MgSO₄ · 6H₂O
H	ⓘ Hydrotalcite	Mg₆Al₂(CO₃)(OH)₁₆ · 4H₂O
H	ⓘ Hydroxylapatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(OH)
H	ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite	K_0.65Al_2.0[Al_0.65Si_3.35O₁₀](OH)₂
H	ⓘ Jarosite	KFe₃³⁺(SO₄)₂(OH)₆
H	ⓘ Kaolinite	Al₂(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
H	ⓘ Leucophosphite	KFe₂³⁺(PO₄)₂(OH) · 2H₂O
H	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
H	ⓘ Hydrohalloysite	Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄ · 2H₂O
C	Carbon
C	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
C	ⓘ Hydrotalcite	Mg₆Al₂(CO₃)(OH)₁₆ · 4H₂O
O	Oxygen
O	ⓘ Alunite	KAl₃(SO₄)₂(OH)₆
O	ⓘ Baryte	BaSO₄
O	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
O	ⓘ Celestine	SrSO₄
O	ⓘ Fluorapatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃F
O	ⓘ Gibbsite	Al(OH)₃
O	ⓘ Goethite	Fe³⁺O(OH)
O	ⓘ Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
O	ⓘ Goyazite	SrAl₃(PO₄)(PO₃OH)(OH)₆
O	ⓘ Hexahydrite	MgSO₄ · 6H₂O
O	ⓘ Hydrotalcite	Mg₆Al₂(CO₃)(OH)₁₆ · 4H₂O
O	ⓘ Hydroxylapatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(OH)
O	ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite	K_0.65Al_2.0[Al_0.65Si_3.35O₁₀](OH)₂
O	ⓘ Jarosite	KFe₃³⁺(SO₄)₂(OH)₆
O	ⓘ Kaolinite	Al₂(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
O	ⓘ Leucophosphite	KFe₂³⁺(PO₄)₂(OH) · 2H₂O
O	ⓘ Magnetite	Fe²⁺Fe₂³⁺O₄
O	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
O	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
O	ⓘ Rutile	TiO₂
O	ⓘ Titanite	CaTi(SiO₄)O
O	ⓘ Hydrohalloysite	Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄ · 2H₂O
F	Fluorine
F	ⓘ Fluorapatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃F
F	ⓘ Fluorite	CaF₂
Mg	Magnesium
Mg	ⓘ Hexahydrite	MgSO₄ · 6H₂O
Mg	ⓘ Hydrotalcite	Mg₆Al₂(CO₃)(OH)₁₆ · 4H₂O
Al	Aluminium
Al	ⓘ Alunite	KAl₃(SO₄)₂(OH)₆
Al	ⓘ Gibbsite	Al(OH)₃
Al	ⓘ Goyazite	SrAl₃(PO₄)(PO₃OH)(OH)₆
Al	ⓘ Hydrotalcite	Mg₆Al₂(CO₃)(OH)₁₆ · 4H₂O
Al	ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite	K_0.65Al_2.0[Al_0.65Si_3.35O₁₀](OH)₂
Al	ⓘ Kaolinite	Al₂(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
Al	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Al	ⓘ Hydrohalloysite	Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄ · 2H₂O
Si	Silicon
Si	ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite	K_0.65Al_2.0[Al_0.65Si_3.35O₁₀](OH)₂
Si	ⓘ Kaolinite	Al₂(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
Si	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Si	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
Si	ⓘ Titanite	CaTi(SiO₄)O
Si	ⓘ Hydrohalloysite	Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄ · 2H₂O
P	Phosphorus
P	ⓘ Fluorapatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃F
P	ⓘ Goyazite	SrAl₃(PO₄)(PO₃OH)(OH)₆
P	ⓘ Hydroxylapatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(OH)
P	ⓘ Leucophosphite	KFe₂³⁺(PO₄)₂(OH) · 2H₂O
S	Sulfur
S	ⓘ Alunite	KAl₃(SO₄)₂(OH)₆
S	ⓘ Baryte	BaSO₄
S	ⓘ Celestine	SrSO₄
S	ⓘ Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
S	ⓘ Hexahydrite	MgSO₄ · 6H₂O
S	ⓘ Jarosite	KFe₃³⁺(SO₄)₂(OH)₆
S	ⓘ Native Sulphur	S₈
K	Potassium
K	ⓘ Alunite	KAl₃(SO₄)₂(OH)₆
K	ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite	K_0.65Al_2.0[Al_0.65Si_3.35O₁₀](OH)₂
K	ⓘ Jarosite	KFe₃³⁺(SO₄)₂(OH)₆
K	ⓘ Leucophosphite	KFe₂³⁺(PO₄)₂(OH) · 2H₂O
K	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Ca	Calcium
Ca	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
Ca	ⓘ Fluorapatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃F
Ca	ⓘ Fluorite	CaF₂
Ca	ⓘ Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
Ca	ⓘ Hydroxylapatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(OH)
Ca	ⓘ Titanite	CaTi(SiO₄)O
Ti	Titanium
Ti	ⓘ Rutile	TiO₂
Ti	ⓘ Titanite	CaTi(SiO₄)O
Fe	Iron
Fe	ⓘ Goethite	Fe³⁺O(OH)
Fe	ⓘ Jarosite	KFe₃³⁺(SO₄)₂(OH)₆
Fe	ⓘ Leucophosphite	KFe₂³⁺(PO₄)₂(OH) · 2H₂O
Fe	ⓘ Magnetite	Fe²⁺Fe₂³⁺O₄
Sr	Strontium
Sr	ⓘ Celestine	SrSO₄
Sr	ⓘ Goyazite	SrAl₃(PO₄)(PO₃OH)(OH)₆
Ba	Barium
Ba	ⓘ Baryte	BaSO₄

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

Eurasian PlateTectonic Plate

Apennine OrogenAccretionary Complex

EuropeContinent

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References

Galdenzi, S., and Menichetti, M. (1995) Occurrence of hypogenic caves in a karst region: Examples from central Italy. Environmental Geology, 26, 39-47

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