Aragonite with Sulfur

specimen number:
1052562

location:
Agrigento, Sicily, Italy

description:
A wonderful large cabinet classic Sicilian specimen, the top of this matrix covered with pale green to colorless lustrous gemmy pseudo-hexagonal crystals of aragonite measuring to 2.5 cm in length. Crystallized native sulfur present throughout. Very minimal damage present, for what this is, it is in really good condition. Brightly fluorescent.

The Agrigento mining district, situated on the southern coast of Sicily, Italy, is a central part of the historic Gessoso-Solfifera Formation. Geologically, these deposits formed during the Messinian Salinity Crisis in the late Miocene, when the Mediterranean Sea underwent massive evaporation, leading to the thick accumulation of evaporites including gypsum, sulfur, and rock salt. Historically, sulfur mining in the region dates back to ancient times, but reached its industrial peak in the 19th and early 20th centuries when Sicily provided the majority of the world's sulfur supply. Operations in the local mines, such as the Cozzo Disi and various pits around Cianciana and Agrigento, largely declined after World War II, with most major sites closing by the late 1980s. The district is world-renowned for its exceptional specimens of aragonite, which frequently occur as sharp, pseudo-hexagonal cyclic twins. These crystals are typically transparent to translucent and are often found in association with bright yellow sulfur crystals or snowy white celestine, providing a striking aesthetic contrast that is highly prized by mineral collectors globally.

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