The territory of Farma Merse
Minerals and rocks

The Montagnola is the source of yellow marble, one of the rarest Italian coloured marbles used in the Middle Ages. In civil buildings it was used with other stone, whereas many churches were built entirely of marble.
The quarries were in the area of Montarrenti, Tonni and Marmoraia. The parish churches of Pernina, Pievescola and Marmoraia are built entirely of local marble. Montagnola marble was used in the 14th century to build Siena cathedral and other important churches such as Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence and the cathedral of Orvieto.
Other important types of stone no longer quarried include Gerfalco red, Vallerano green and Montagnola pink.
Types of white marble were used for architectural features, whereas yellow marble was used for artistic and ornamental features such as the coloured mosaics in Siena cathedral or for interior panels. The most precious variety of yellow is Broccatello which has golden lights and darker purplish marks and veins. Siena yellow marble was used in the casino of San Remo, the study of the governor of the Bank of Italy and some Armani shops.
It has been used in restoration work in the Sans Souci Palace at Potsdam, Amalfi cathedral and the pavement of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
The golden period for Siena yellow marble was the 17th and 18th centuries, after which it was eclipsed by Apuan marble production.
CetiniteThe mine at Cetine, can be visited on request and is quite unique.This historical antimony mine resumed activity between 1878 and 1944. Up to 140 people worked in the mine, including women and children, and the first claims for workers' rights were made here. Besides antimony, more that 60 other minerals were found, including Cetineite (picture on the left) .
At Torniella, between Monticiano and Roccastrada, there are quartz quarries. Traces of many ancient ferriere, still exist along the courses of the rivers Farma, Merse and Gonna.
In the Murlo area, there were major lignite mines. The history of these mines is linked to that of the Etruscan settlements in this area and the important archaeological discoveries at Poggio Civitate.

Books: "Minerali del Senese" by Pagani - Betti
Protagon Editori Toscani

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