Piemontite
Piemontite is a bright rich red mineral in the Epidote group. It gains its colour from manganese.
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Information about Piemontite
Piemontite is a striking mineral known for its deep reddish to pinkish-brown colour, often with a slightly metallic to silky luster.
It is part of the epidote group and usually occurs in prismatic, granular, or fibrous forms, sometimes as fine needle-like inclusions in other minerals.
Uses and History
Although not widely used commercially due to its relative rarity, piemontite is prized by mineral collectors for its vivid colouration and crystal form. It is occasionally cut as a gemstone, but its softness and rarity make it more suitable for display purposes rather than everyday jewellery.
Piemontite was first described in 1758, but was eventually named in 1853 after the Piedmont region of Italy, where it was originally discovered. Its type locality is the Praborna Mine, which was in the region of Piedmont until 1946.
Since then, it has been found in a number of manganese-rich metamorphic localities across the world, including Japan, South Africa, Sweden, and the United States.
Mineralogy
Red, violet-red, red-brown, red-black.
Hazards and Warnings
Mineral collectors should wash their hands after handling specimens, to avoid any exposure to potential toxins.
Almost all rocks, minerals (and, frankly, almost all other substances on earth) can produce toxic dust when cutting, which can cause serious respiratory conditions including silicosis.
When cutting or polishing rocks, minerals, shells, etc, all work should be done wet to minimise the dust, and a suitable respirator or extraction system should be used.
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