Among the most extraordinary treasures of Elba Island are prasiolite quartz, first discovered on the island by Alfeo Ricci; polarised magnetite from the Calamita Mine; and rosette-shaped calcite with epidote from the Ginevro Mine – overlapping crystals unique in the world, resembling fish scales. These extremely rare specimens form part of the ‘Alfeo Ricci’ private mineral collection, expanded by his heirs, which presents Elba as a veritable open-air mineralogical museum. The exhibition includes samples from the iron mines of eastern Elba and the pegmatite veins of Monte Capanne, representing a heritage of exceptional scientific and aesthetic value. Alfeo Ricci, an eclectic and self-taught figure, devoted much of his life, between the 1930s and 1960s, to the study and cataloguing of Elban minerals, whilst also working with semi-precious stones. His passion and the care he took with the collection bear witness to the importance of scientific collecting and his love for the geology of the Island of Elba.
