Agrigento Province
Sicily, Italy
Provincia di Agrigento (Provincia di Girgenti), Sicilia, Italia
Key Information
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Agrigento Province, Sicily, Italy, is on the southwest coast, known for its rich mineral deposits and historical sites like the Valley of the Temples.
It produces sulphur, gypsum, calcite, and uncommon minerals like melanophlogite, with evaporite deposits shaping its geology.
Mining, especially sulphur, was significant until the 1970s, with sites like Passarello Mine in Licata.
The area has a Mediterranean climate, facing recent drought issues, and a culture tied to Greek heritage and figures like Luigi Pirandello.
Geographic Location
Agrigento Province lies on the southwest coast of Sicily, Italy, with the city of Agrigento on the southern coast overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. It's part of the Mediterranean region, close to other notable Sicilian sites like Mount Etna to the east and nearby towns like Sciacca and Favara, known for ceramics and contemporary art.
Minerals Produced
The province is famous for sulphur, historically mined and exported, alongside gypsum, calcite, celestine, halite, and quartz. Uncommon minerals include melanophlogite, eugsterite, and meteoritic finds like kamacite, adding a unique twist for crystal enthusiasts.
Geological Structure and Mining History
The geology features the Maghrebian-Apenninic orogen, with Messinian-age evaporite deposits forming minerals through seawater evaporation. Sulphur mining, active from ancient times to the 1970s, included key sites like the Passarello Mine in Licata, reflecting the region's economic past.
Local Culture and Climate
Rich in Greek and Roman history, the province boasts the Valley of the Temples and is the birthplace of Luigi Pirandello and Empedocles. Local cuisine includes caponata and wines, while the Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and mild winters, faces recent drought challenges.