Skarn deposit in Etruscan-Roman mine
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Skarn deposit in Etruscan-Roman mine

by Luca Tinagli, University of Pisa - Department of Earth Sciences, Pisa, Italy

In Campiglia Marittima area (Italy) there are several ancient mines in small Fe-Cu-Pb(-Ag)-Zn skarn deposit. The irregularity of the ancient exploitation allows a better geological survey in a natural 3D vision. Moreover, much of these are unexplored from modern prospectors giving the possibility for the archeologist to study the true Etruscan-Roman mining works. The photo shows in the foreground the altered radiated-fibrous skarn (black) and the Fe-oxides near the entrance.