description Piemontite Overview
Piemontite is a manganese-rich variety of epidote, a mineral group member that commonly forms in metamorphic rocks. Manganese gives it red, pink, purple, or violet coloration, and many specimens show pleochroism, meaning their apparent color changes with viewing direction under polarized light. Its name refers to Piedmont, Italy, where the variety was first described.
help Piemontite FAQ
What is piemontite?
Piemontite is a manganese-rich member of the epidote mineral group. Manganese gives many specimens red, pink, purple, or violet colors instead of the green shades common in ordinary epidote. [Mindat mineral profile](https://www.mindat.org/min-3208.html)
Why does piemontite show pleochroism?
Pleochroism means the mineral appears to change color when viewed along different crystal directions. In piemontite, manganese, especially Mn3+, contributes to strong red, pink, yellow, or violet changes under polarized light. [Piemontite mineral explanation](https://www.alexstrekeisen.it/english/meta/piemontite1.php)
What rocks contain piemontite?
Piemontite commonly forms in manganese-bearing metamorphic rocks, including glaucophane schists and rocks from low-grade metamorphic settings. It can also occur in low-temperature hydrothermal veins associated with altered volcanic rocks. [Piemontite overview](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piemontite)
Where are notable piemontite localities?
Documented localities include the Praborna mine in Italy and the Kamisugai mine in the Sambagawa metamorphic belt of Shikoku, Japan. The Kamisugai material has been studied for its manganese, strontium, and rare-earth-element content. [Mindat mineral profile](https://www.mindat.org/min-3208.html)
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