Le Novelle Quarry
Ercolano, Metropolitan City of Naples, Campania, Italy
Cava Le Novella, Ercolano, Monte Somma, Complesso vulcanico Somma-Vesuvio, Napoli, Campania, Italia
Key Information
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The Le Novelle Quarry is located in Ercolano, Italy, near Mount Vesuvius, part of the Somma-Vesuvius Volcanic Complex.
It is known for minerals like lazurite, zirconolite, and atacamite, with unique volcanic formations.
The quarry is abandoned, last checked in 2020, with a history of mining activity.
It sits in a region rich with Roman history, near Pompeii and Herculaneum, with a Mediterranean climate.
Location and Geography
The Le Novelle Quarry is in Ercolano, Campania, Italy, at coordinates 40° 50' 0'' North, 14° 22' 40'' East, on the western slopes of Mount Somma. This places it near Naples, close to towns like Massa di Somma and San Sebastiano al Vesuvio, and within reach of the famous archaeological sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The area is part of the Somma-Vesuvius Volcanic Complex, known for its volcanic activity.
Minerals and Geology
The quarry is celebrated for its diverse minerals, including lazurite, zirconolite, fluoro-edenite, and atacamite, which appears as green incrustations on lava from the 1872 eruption. These minerals reflect the volcanic and metamorphic processes of the region, offering a rich field for study and collection.
Mining History and Culture
Once active, the quarry is now abandoned, last noted in 2020, and was historically known as "Novella Quarry" or "Cava Novella." Ercolano, renamed in 1969 from Resina to honor ancient Herculaneum, is steeped in Roman history, with cultural events hosted in restored 18th-century villas and local products like Lacryma Christi wine.
Climate and Ecology
The region enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The volcanic soils support unique flora, adapted to the mineral-rich environment, enhancing the ecological diversity.