Inventory of the Minerals of Luxembourg

Researchers involved: Simon Philippo – Kim Totaro

Themes: critical and strategic minerals / environmental mineralogy

The inventory of the minerals of Luxembourg has been an ongoing process since 1997. In‑depth studies on the mineralogical diversity of the former mines of the Éisleck, such as Stolzembourg and Goesdorf, have resulted in several publications in Ferrantia, the museum’s journal, as well as articles in international journals, with a focus on the environmental impact of mineralisation.

This research project also led, in 2018, to the discovery of the first new mineral species for the country: luxembourgite.

Since 2023, this work has been carried out by Simon Philippo and Kim Totaro. Upcoming publications will focus on the mineralisations of Martelange, the Bivels area and the heavy minerals of the rivers of the Éisleck. A full inventory of the minerals of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is planned in the coming years.

Recent studies no longer limit themselves to a simple inventory but also include an analysis of the formation conditions of these deposits. A research project on palaeofluids has been launched, with a first publication on the Stolzembourg deposit.

At present, MNHNL researchers are working on three sub‑projects:

+ Ongoing inventory: detailed study and description of the mineralisations of Martelange and the surroundings of Bivels. These results will be published at the end of 2025. In 2026, studies relating to the Consthum quarry and the Holtzum bypass are planned for publication.

+ Goesdorf: detailed description and study of the 2023 drill core, integrated with the geophysical study carried out in previous years.

+ Heavy minerals of the rivers of the Éisleck: inventory of samples taken from certain rivers of the Éisleck, study of Antun’s samples, and sampling in missing areas. This is a longer‑term study, alternating between field sampling and laboratory analyses.

Publications :

PHILIPPO S & HANSON A. (2007), "La Minéralisation en antimoine de Goesdorf", 111-146, in Philippo S. (eds), ‘Inventaire minéralogique du Luxembourg : Stolzembourg, Schimpach, Goesdorf’, Ferrantia 49, pp. 152.

PHILIPPO S. & BORNAIN S. (2007), "La Minéralisation en cuivre de Stolzembourg", 7-99, in Philippo S. (eds), ‘Inventaire minéralogique du Luxembourg : Stolzembourg, Schimpach, Goesdorf’, Ferrantia 49, pp. 152.

PHILIPPO S. & KRONZ G. (2007), "Une seconde occurrence mondiale de gravegliaite et une première occurrence nationale d’or, Schimpach, Grand-Duché de Luxembourg", 101-110, in Philippo S. (eds), ‘Inventaire minéralogique du Luxembourg : Stolzembourg, Schimpach, Goesdorf’, Ferrantia 49, pp. 152.

FILELLA M., CHANUDET V., PHILIPPO S., QUENTEL F. (2009), " Particle size and mineralogical composition of inorganic colloids in draining waters of the adit of an old antimony mine, Goesdorf, Luxembourg", Applied Geochemistry, 24, 52-61. (impact factor 1.857)

FILELLA M., PHILIPPO S., BELZILE N., CHEN Y, QUENTEL F. (2009), " Natural attenuation processes applying to antimony: A study in the abandoned antimony mine in Goesdorf, Luxembourg ", Science of the Total Environment, 407, 6205-6216.

PHILIPPO, S. & HATERT, F. (2018), La Minéralisation en antimoine de Goesdorf (2), p. 7-58, in Philippo S. (eds), ‘Inventaire minéralogique du Luxembourg et de la région : Goesdorf et Beauraing’, Ferrantia 77, pp. 113.

PHILIPPO, S., HATERT, F., BRUNI, Y., VIGNOLA, P. & SEJKORA, J. (2020), Luxembourgite, AgCuPbBi4Se8, a new mineral species from Bivels, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. European Journal of Mineralogy, 32, 449–455.

CHRISTIAN MARIGNAC, MICHEL CATHELINEAU, OLIVIER BELCOURT, SIMON PHILIPPO (2023), Cu and Pb-Zn-Ba deposits in the Great Duchy of Luxembourg: role of brines penetrating the basement. International Journal of Earth Sciences, 112(6), 1771-1801.