Sassi Neri Mine in Capoliveri

The Sassi Neri Mine was a minor site of the Capoliveri Mines, located north of Ginevro and Calamita. Mining activities in the Sassi Neri Mine began in 1953 and ended in 1960.

Curiosity: Further south, there was another site called Stagnone, but it was only used for exploration and never exploited for mining activities.

The mineral extracted was magnetite, very similar to the one mined at the Ginevro mine, but richer in sulfur and more resistant to fracture due to the presence of amphiboles and pyroxenes. Other minerals found included: Epidote, White and Green Adularia, Quartz, and Black Tourmaline.

A scenic attraction of the area is the Sassi Neri Lake, which formed by the filling of the mining excavation pit. The lake was named after the old, abandoned mine. It is a freshwater lake with a greenish color, contrasting with the dark and red rocks of the high excavation fronts that tower over it. The lake is surrounded by typical vegetation of the Mediterranean scrub, which has almost completely covered the mining areas; aquatic plants are found only in some areas. It is situated at -4 meters above sea level and, despite its modest size, has a depth of up to 10 meters.

The strip of land separating it from the sea is formed by a small hill that was spared from the excavations, now serving as a natural barrier against the strong eastern winds. Because of this, from the lake's basin, it is impossible to see the sea, even though the sound of the waves signals that it is just a few meters away.

Not far from the lake, there is a building that was once used for this mining site and has now been converted into a residence.