Buca della Vena Mine
Pontestazzemese, Stazzema, Lucca Province, Tuscany, Italy
Miniera di Buca della Vena, Ponte Stazzemese, Stazzema, Alpi Apuane, Lucca, Toscana, Italia
Key Information
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The Buca della Vena Mine is located in Pontestazzemese, Stazzema, Lucca Province, Tuscany, Italy, within the Apuan Alps, known for mineral richness and nearby mines like Bottino.
It produced baryte and Fe-oxides until 1988, with 79 minerals identified, including 14 type localities like oxycalcioroméite and apuanite, appealing to collectors.
The geological structure involves Upper Triassic dolomitic metalimestones and Liassic marbles, with debated origins between metasomatic and sedimentary processes.
Mining began in Roman times for iron, shifted to baryte in the 20th century, and ceased in 1988 due to low demand.
Stazzema is culturally significant for the WWII Sant'Anna massacre, with a National Park of Peace, and is known for Carrara marble and local cuisine like tordelli versiliei.
The climate is temperate with seasonal variation, at 439 meters elevation, surrounded by forests and meadows, though not directly linked to mineral formation.
Location and Context
The Buca della Vena Mine sits in the picturesque Apuan Alps, part of Tuscany's Lucca Province, about 80 km northwest of Florence. This region, famous for its Renaissance heritage, also hosts other notable mines like Bottino, making it a hub for mineral enthusiasts. The mine's coordinates, approximately 43° 59' 54'' N, 10° 17' 39'' E, place it in a scenic, mountainous area rich in geological history.
Minerals and Appeal
While primarily mined for baryte and iron oxides until 1988, the mine's true allure lies in its diversity, with 79 valid minerals, 14 of which are type localities. Standouts include oxycalcioroméite, a reddish-brown, transparent octahedron from the pyrochlore supergroup, and apuanite, a rare black iron antimony mineral. These unique finds, alongside scainiite's silvery sprays, make it a treasure trove for collectors and researchers.
Geological Insights
The mine's mineralization is embedded in carbonatic lenses of Upper Triassic dolomitic metalimestones and Liassic marbles, interbedded with phyllites. The origin is debated: some research suggests metasomatic replacement linked to an intrusive body, while others lean toward a sedimentary origin later metamorphosed during the Tertiary Appenninic orogeny. Veins and fractures, containing calcite, baryte, and quartz, reflect this complex history.
Historical Mining
Mining at Buca della Vena dates back to Roman times for iron, with periods of inactivity and revival, notably in the late 17th century. By the 20th century, it focused on baryte for oil drilling and nuclear shielding, ceasing operations in 1988 due to reduced demand, leaving behind a legacy of industrial remnants.
Cultural and Local Significance
Stazzema's cultural landscape is marked by the tragic Sant'Anna di Stazzema Massacre of 1944, commemorated at the National Park of Peace and a resistance museum. The area's fame extends to Carrara marble, used by artists like Michaelangelo, and its cuisine, featuring tordelli versiliei and chestnut flour desserts, reflects local agricultural traditions.
Environmental Setting
At 439 meters elevation, Stazzema enjoys a temperate climate with distinct seasons, typical of the Apuan Alps. Surrounded by forests and meadows, the ecology is rich, though the climate does not directly influence mineral formation, it shapes the mining environment and preservation conditions.