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Formula: (Fe2+2Fe3+2)(Fe3+2Sb3+6)O16S
Valence: (Fe2+2Fe3+2)(Fe3+2Sb3+6)O16S2-
Antimonite,
trippkeite group
Crystal system: Orthorhombic
Specific gravity: 5.12 measured, 5.32 calculated
Hardness: 5
Colour: Black
Common impurities: Zn,As
Environments
Although versilianite was approved in 1978, to date (February 2026) it has been reported only from the
type locality.
Localities
The type locality, the Buca della Vena Mine, Pontestazzemese, Stazzema, Lucca Province, Tuscany, Italy, is a small
mineral deposit which outcrops north of Stazzema, and contains iron ores
(magnetite, hematite and minor
pyrite) within a microcrystalline mass of
baryte. The mineralisation took place by metasomatic process at the contact
between phyllites and
dolostones. Versiliaite and
apuanite were generally found as massive black aggregates in veinlets
within thin layers of dolomite, which are relics of the metasomatic
process
(AM 64.1230-1234).
Associated minerals include schafarzikite,
apuanite, derbylite,
baryte, magnetite,
hematite and pyrite
(HOM).
Versilianite from the Buca della Vena Mine -
Image
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