Quick Links : The Mindat Manual The Rock H. Currier Digital Library Mindat Newsletter [Free Download]

Home Page About Mindat The Mindat Manual History of Mindat Copyright Status Who We Are Contact Us Advertise on Mindat

Donate to Mindat Corporate Sponsorship Sponsor a Page Sponsored Pages Mindat Advertisers Advertise on Mindat

Learning Center What is a mineral?The most common minerals on earth Information for Educators Mindat Articles The Elements The Rock H. Currier Digital Library Geologic Time Explore Fossils

Minerals by Properties Minerals by Chemistry Mineral Visual Explorer Advanced Locality Search Random Mineral Random Locality Search by minID Localities Near Me Search Articles Search Glossary More Search Options

The Mindat Manual Add a New Photo Rate Photos Locality Edit Report Coordinate Completion Report Add Glossary Item

Mining Companies Statistics Users Mineral Museums Clubs & Organizations Mineral Shows & Events The Mindat Directory Device Settings The Mineral Quiz Time Machine

Photo Search Photo Galleries Search by Color Photo Colour Explorer New Photos Today New Photos Yesterday Members' Photo Galleries Past Photo of the Day Gallery Photography

Rocca della Biscia, Sassello, Savona Province, Liguria, Italy i
Regional Level Types
Rocca della Biscia - not defined -
Sassello Commune
Savona Province Province
Liguria Region
Italy Country

Regional Level Types
Rocca della Biscia	- not defined -
Sassello	Commune
Savona Province	Province
Liguria	Region
Italy	Country

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

Photos Maps Search

Standard

All Photos (48)Specimen Photos (40)Locality Photos (8)Photos by Color Gallery Photo Statistics Add Photo

Map Pages Nearest Localities Use Map in Article

Mineral Search Similar Localities Nearest Localities Predictive Mineralogy Search Google

Along the creek

Rocca della Biscia, Sassello, Savona Province, Liguria, Italy

To the top

Rocca della Biscia, Sassello, Savona Province, Liguria, Italy

Search on a rodingite rock

Rocca della Biscia, Sassello, Savona Province, Liguria, Italy

Along the creek

Rocca della Biscia, Sassello, Savona Province, Liguria, Italy

To the top

Rocca della Biscia, Sassello, Savona Province, Liguria, Italy

Search on a rodingite rock

Rocca della Biscia, Sassello, Savona Province, Liguria, Italy

Along the creek

Rocca della Biscia, Sassello, Savona Province, Liguria, Italy

To the top

Rocca della Biscia, Sassello, Savona Province, Liguria, Italy

Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):

44° 27' 1'' North , 8° 36' 29'' East

Latitude & Longitude (decimal):

44.45052,8.60814

GRN:

N30E05

Köppen climate type:

Csb : Warm-summer Mediterranean climate

Nearest Settlements:

Place	Population	Distance
Vara Superiore	110 (2014)	2.5km
San Pietro d'Olba	206 (2014)	4.4km
Urbe	869 (2012)	4.4km
Sciarborasca	1,732 (2014)	5.4km
Schivà	263 (2014)	5.9km

Mindat Locality ID:

54863

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:2:54863:7

GUID (UUID V4):

Name(s) in local language(s):

Rocca della Biscia, Urbe, Provincia di Savona, Liguria, Italia

Rodingite bodies in serpentinites of Beigua unit, an ophiolitic slice of the Voltri Massif.

Rocca della Biscia rodingites are particularly known for the presence of zircon crystals, occurring both in mineralised fissures (in association with vesuvianite, garnet, diopside, magnetite, and chlorite) and embedded in a complex matrix (mainly consisting of calcite, magnetite, titanite, and chlorite). Zircon appears as prismatic crystals, up to 5-6 mm in length and sometimes twinned; dark red crystals are photosensitive.

Note: Borgo & Palenzona (1988) and some labels of mineral collections indicate this zircon occurrence as "northern flank of Monte Beigua".

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

10 valid minerals.

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Albite

Formula: Na(AlSi₃O₈)

References:

Antofilli, Mario, Borgo, Emilio, Palenzona, Andrea (1985) I nostri minerali : geologia e mineralogia in Liguria (2nd ed.). Edizioni Melita.

ⓘ Calcite

Formula: CaCO₃

References:

Borgo, E., Palenzona, A. (1988): I nostri minerali. Geologia e mineralogia in Liguria. Aggiornamento 1988. SAGEP Editrice, Genova, 48 pp.

ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'

References:

Pipino G. (1981): Granatiti e rodingiti. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 4, 5, 103-116

Antofilli, Mario, Borgo, Emilio, Palenzona, Andrea (1985) I nostri minerali : geologia e mineralogia in Liguria (2nd ed.). Edizioni Melita.

Borgo, E., Palenzona, A. (1988): I nostri minerali. Geologia e mineralogia in Liguria. Aggiornamento 1988. SAGEP Editrice, Genova, 48 pp.

ⓘ Diopside

Formula: CaMgSi₂O₆

References:

Antofilli, Mario, Borgo, Emilio, Palenzona, Andrea (1985) I nostri minerali : geologia e mineralogia in Liguria (2nd ed.). Edizioni Melita.

ⓘ 'Garnet Group'

Formula: X₃Z₂(SiO₄)₃

References:

Pipino G. (1981): Granatiti e rodingiti. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 4, 5, 103-116

Antofilli, Mario, Borgo, Emilio, Palenzona, Andrea (1985) I nostri minerali : geologia e mineralogia in Liguria (2nd ed.). Edizioni Melita.

ⓘ Grossular

Formula: Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃

References:

Giovanni Scapin Collection

ⓘ Grossular var. Hessonite

Formula: Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃

References:

Giovanni Scapin Collection

ⓘ Magnetite

Formula: Fe²⁺Fe³⁺₂O₄

Localities:

Rocca della Biscia, Sassello, Savona Province, Liguria, Italy
Il Dano, Rocca della Biscia, Sassello, Savona Province, Liguria, Italy

ⓘ Malachite

Formula: Cu₂(CO₃)(OH)₂

References:

Giovanni Scapin Collection

ⓘ Rutile

Formula: TiO₂

Locality: Il Dano, Rocca della Biscia, Sassello, Savona Province, Liguria, Italy

References:

Antofilli, Mario, Borgo, Emilio, Palenzona, Andrea (1983) I nostri minerali : geologia e mineralogia in Liguria (1st ed.). Sagep Editrice.

ⓘ Titanite

Formula: CaTi(SiO₄)O

References:

Antofilli, Mario, Borgo, Emilio, Palenzona, Andrea (1985) I nostri minerali : geologia e mineralogia in Liguria (2nd ed.). Edizioni Melita.

Borgo, E., Palenzona, A. (1988): I nostri minerali. Geologia e mineralogia in Liguria. Aggiornamento 1988. SAGEP Editrice, Genova, 48 pp.

ⓘ Vesuvianite

Formula: Ca₁₉Fe³⁺Al₄(Al₆Mg₂)(◻₄)◻[Si₂O₇]₄[(SiO₄)₁₀]O(OH)₉

References:

Pipino G. (1981): Granatiti e rodingiti. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 4, 5, 103-116

Antofilli, Mario, Borgo, Emilio, Palenzona, Andrea (1985) I nostri minerali : geologia e mineralogia in Liguria (2nd ed.). Edizioni Melita.

ⓘ Zircon

Formula: Zr(SiO₄)

References:

Pipino G. (1981): Granatiti e rodingiti. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 4, 5, 103-116

Antofilli, Mario, Borgo, Emilio, Palenzona, Andrea (1985) I nostri minerali : geologia e mineralogia in Liguria (2nd ed.). Edizioni Melita.

Borgo, E., Palenzona, A. (1988): I nostri minerali. Geologia e mineralogia in Liguria. Aggiornamento 1988. SAGEP Editrice, Genova, 48 pp.

Gallery:

Zr(SiO₄)ⓘ Zircon

Zircon

Rocca della Biscia, Sassello, Savona Province, Liguria, Italy

Zircon

Rocca della Biscia, Sassello, Savona Province, Liguria, Italy

Zircon

Rocca della Biscia, Sassello, Savona Province, Liguria, Italy

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘ	Magnetite	4.BB.05	Fe²⁺Fe³⁺₂O₄
ⓘ	Rutile	4.DB.05	TiO₂
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘ	Calcite	5.AB.05	CaCO₃
ⓘ	Malachite	5.BA.10	Cu₂(CO₃)(OH)₂
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘ	Grossular	9.AD.25	Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
ⓘ	var. Hessonite	9.AD.25	Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
ⓘ	Zircon	9.AD.30	Zr(SiO₄)
ⓘ	Titanite	9.AG.15	CaTi(SiO₄)O
ⓘ	Vesuvianite	9.BG.35	Ca₁₉Fe³⁺Al₄(Al₆Mg₂)(◻₄)◻[Si₂O₇]₄[(SiO₄)₁₀]O(OH)₉
ⓘ	Diopside	9.DA.15	CaMgSi₂O₆
ⓘ	Albite	9.FA.35	Na(AlSi₃O₈)
Unclassified
ⓘ	'Chlorite Group'	-
ⓘ	'Garnet Group'	-	X₃Z₂(SiO₄)₃

List of minerals for each chemical element

H	Hydrogen
H	ⓘ Malachite	Cu₂(CO₃)(OH)₂
H	ⓘ Vesuvianite	Ca₁₉Fe³⁺Al₄(Al₆Mg₂)(◻₄)◻[Si₂O₇]₄[(SiO₄)₁₀]O(OH)₉
C	Carbon
C	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
C	ⓘ Malachite	Cu₂(CO₃)(OH)₂
O	Oxygen
O	ⓘ Albite	Na(AlSi₃O₈)
O	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
O	ⓘ Diopside	CaMgSi₂O₆
O	ⓘ Grossular	Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
O	ⓘ Grossular var. Hessonite	Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
O	ⓘ Magnetite	Fe²⁺Fe₂³⁺O₄
O	ⓘ Malachite	Cu₂(CO₃)(OH)₂
O	ⓘ Rutile	TiO₂
O	ⓘ Titanite	CaTi(SiO₄)O
O	ⓘ Vesuvianite	Ca₁₉Fe³⁺Al₄(Al₆Mg₂)(◻₄)◻[Si₂O₇]₄[(SiO₄)₁₀]O(OH)₉
O	ⓘ Zircon	Zr(SiO₄)
O	ⓘ Garnet Group	X₃Z₂(SiO₄)₃
Na	Sodium
Na	ⓘ Albite	Na(AlSi₃O₈)
Mg	Magnesium
Mg	ⓘ Diopside	CaMgSi₂O₆
Mg	ⓘ Vesuvianite	Ca₁₉Fe³⁺Al₄(Al₆Mg₂)(◻₄)◻[Si₂O₇]₄[(SiO₄)₁₀]O(OH)₉
Al	Aluminium
Al	ⓘ Albite	Na(AlSi₃O₈)
Al	ⓘ Grossular	Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
Al	ⓘ Grossular var. Hessonite	Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
Al	ⓘ Vesuvianite	Ca₁₉Fe³⁺Al₄(Al₆Mg₂)(◻₄)◻[Si₂O₇]₄[(SiO₄)₁₀]O(OH)₉
Si	Silicon
Si	ⓘ Albite	Na(AlSi₃O₈)
Si	ⓘ Diopside	CaMgSi₂O₆
Si	ⓘ Grossular	Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
Si	ⓘ Grossular var. Hessonite	Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
Si	ⓘ Titanite	CaTi(SiO₄)O
Si	ⓘ Vesuvianite	Ca₁₉Fe³⁺Al₄(Al₆Mg₂)(◻₄)◻[Si₂O₇]₄[(SiO₄)₁₀]O(OH)₉
Si	ⓘ Zircon	Zr(SiO₄)
Si	ⓘ Garnet Group	X₃Z₂(SiO₄)₃
Ca	Calcium
Ca	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
Ca	ⓘ Diopside	CaMgSi₂O₆
Ca	ⓘ Grossular	Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
Ca	ⓘ Grossular var. Hessonite	Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
Ca	ⓘ Titanite	CaTi(SiO₄)O
Ca	ⓘ Vesuvianite	Ca₁₉Fe³⁺Al₄(Al₆Mg₂)(◻₄)◻[Si₂O₇]₄[(SiO₄)₁₀]O(OH)₉
Ti	Titanium
Ti	ⓘ Rutile	TiO₂
Ti	ⓘ Titanite	CaTi(SiO₄)O
Fe	Iron
Fe	ⓘ Magnetite	Fe²⁺Fe₂³⁺O₄
Fe	ⓘ Vesuvianite	Ca₁₉Fe³⁺Al₄(Al₆Mg₂)(◻₄)◻[Si₂O₇]₄[(SiO₄)₁₀]O(OH)₉
Cu	Copper
Cu	ⓘ Malachite	Cu₂(CO₃)(OH)₂
Zr	Zirconium
Zr	ⓘ Zircon	Zr(SiO₄)

Localities in this Region

Italy

Liguria
- Savona Province
  - Sassello
    - Rocca della Biscia
      - Il Dano

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

Eurasian PlateTectonic Plate

Apennine OrogenAccretionary Complex

EuropeContinent

Italy

Voltri Massif (Voltri Group)Massif

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

Pipino G. (1981): Granatiti e rodingiti. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 4, 5, 103-116

Antofilli, Mario, Borgo, Emilio, Palenzona, Andrea (1985) I nostri minerali : geologia e mineralogia in Liguria (2nd ed.). Edizioni Melita.

Borgo, E., Palenzona, A. (1988): I nostri minerali. Geologia e mineralogia in Liguria. Aggiornamento 1988. SAGEP Editrice, Genova, 48 pp.

Quick NavTop Mineral List Localities in Region Other Regions References

Mindat.org® is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Mindat® and mindat.org® are registered trademarks of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2026, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau.
Content on this site may not be used to train, fine-tune, or otherwise develop artificial intelligence or machine learning models without prior written permission - see our Terms & Conditions.
To cite: Ralph, J., Von Bargen, D., Martynov, P., Zhang, J., Que, X., Prabhu, A., Morrison, S. M., Li, W., Chen, W., & Ma, X. (2025). Mindat.org: The open access mineralogy database to accelerate data-intensive geoscience research. American Mineralogist, 110(6), 833–844. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9486.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: September 4, 2026 06:10:09 Page updated: December 15, 2025 17:00:30

Go to top of page

Rocca della Biscia, Sassello, Savona Province, Liguria, ItalyiRegional Level TypesRocca della Biscia- not defined - SasselloCommune Savona ProvinceProvince LiguriaRegion ItalyCountry function showexplain() { $("#locexplain").toggle(); if (typeof movemap === "function") movemap(); }

Select Mineral List Type

Mineral List

Detailed Mineral List:

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

List of minerals for each chemical element

Localities in this Region

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References

Rocca della Biscia, Sassello, Savona Province, Liguria, Italy i
Regional Level Types
Rocca della Biscia - not defined -
Sassello Commune
Savona Province Province
Liguria Region
Italy Country