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| Where | Capoliveri - Loc. Calamita |
|---|---|
| How to get there | From Capoliveri follow the signs for the Miniere di Capoliveri. |
| Guided tours | Treks and guided tours of the mining areas are available by reservation. Any mineral prospecting or collecting activities are permitted only when included and authorized as part of the organized excursion. Mine Safari organizes excursions aboard a 4x4 military vehicle along off-road routes. |
| Prices | Prices vary depending on the excursion; museum admission included. |
| Visitor experience | Suitable for families with children - Dogs allowed subject to specific rules - Interesting photography spot |
| Contacts | Miniere Calamita Tel. +39 0565 935492 - +39 393 9059583 - +39 3938720018 minieracalamita@gmail.com |
The Calamita Mine is located on the south-eastern side of Isola d’Elba, overlooking the Costa dei Gabbiani. It was the most important of the mines in Capoliveri and, as its name suggests, was characterized mainly by magnetite mineralization.
The landscape is still deeply marked by mining activities: along the coast, steep terraces rich in glittering black rocks and blue and green veins slope down towards the sea. Higher up, the mining sites appear as natural open-air amphitheatres, where the old and imposing processing plants are clearly visible even from the sea.
Several mining sites operated within the Calamita Mine. In the upper area:
- Albaroccia: occupies the highest part of the mine, up to 300m above sea level; magnetite and limonite were extracted here.
- Nuova Zona: magnetite, ilvaite and hedenbergite were extracted here.
- Macei Alto: magnetite, hematite and hedenbergite.
- Polveraio: there are two powder-magazine buildings for explosives and blasting devices. The newer powder magazines date from the 1960s. Explosives were stored here monthly for all the Punta Calamita mining sites. The buildings previously used for this purpose still exist lower down, surrounded by vegetation, and were later used for agricultural purposes, perhaps by the area managers themselves.
In the lower area, mainly magnetite was extracted, together with smaller quantities of hematite, as well as malachite, azurite, chalcanthite, dioptase, native copper and cuprite, and also erythrite (cobalt arsenate):
- Punta Rossa: where mainly limonite was extracted.
- Macei Basso: located west of Punta Rossa, for the extraction of magnetite.
- Vallone: from 160 metres to -15 metres (explored only by drilling).
Interesting fact: The area around Vallone contains much of the mineralogical variety, making it a destination for enthusiasts and collectors looking for specimens of Azurite, Malachite, Chrysocolla, Aragonite, Gypsum, Garnets, Epidote and Ilvaite to add to their mineral collections.
Most of the production facilities were also located around Vallone. Today the area is home to the Museo della Vecchia Officina.
infoelba recommends: Mining activities at the Vallone site led to the creation of the beautiful white Cannello beach, formed by the accumulation of iron-free minerals that were dumped on the coast as waste.
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