Epidote

specimen number:
2072379

location:
La Combe de la Selle, Isere, France

description:
Lustrous slightly translucent crystals of epidote to 1.0 cm in length across the top of matrix. Classic locality for the species. In good condition. At one time the specimen was part of the collection of Jordi Povill of Barcelona, Spain.

The La Combe de la Selle area, situated in the Saint-Christophe-en-Oisans commune of the Isere Department, France, is a high-altitude mineral locality within the Pelvoux Massif of the French Alps. Geologically, the site is characterized by alpine-type fissures hosted in metamorphic rocks, specifically amphibolites and gneisses, where hydrothermal activity during the Alpine orogeny led to the growth of minerals in open pockets. The locality is famous for its exceptional epidote specimens, which occur as dark green to brownish-green, elongated prismatic crystals that often exhibit a high vitreous luster and are sometimes found in aesthetic association with quartz or asbestiform actinolite. Historically, the region has seen limited industrial mining or quarrying due to its rugged and nearly inaccessible terrain at elevations exceeding 2500 meters. Most mineral recovery has been the result of dedicated efforts by "cristalliers" (local crystal hunters) who have explored these steep cliffs for centuries, with significant systematic finds of epidote occurring periodically throughout the 20th century and into the early 21st century. As of 2026, La Combe de la Selle remains a classic and challenging locality, highly regarded by the mineralogical community for the superb quality and crystal habit of its alpine epidote.

Questions about this specimen?
Send an email or call us: 314-341-1811.