Kaolinite Pseudomorph of Leucite
Collection
Robert Lavinsky
Description
The locality at Mt. Somma is actually the type locality for
Leucite
and a myriad of other species. The mountain itself is an
igneous
mound that shows what remains when the cataclysmic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius took place in 79 A.D. which destroyed the city of Pompei. This historic specimen shows a great
pseudomorph
of reddish tan Kaolinite clay that replaced and maintained the shape of
trapezohedra
of Lecuite. The fact that this piece one belonged to the great gemologist George F. Kunz (Kunzite) is simply amazing, because you don''t see Kunz labels on the market very often. The label states that he acquired the piece in 1902. A very interesting and unique pseudomorph from this incredibly old and well documented European locality.
Locality
Fosso Cancherone, Sant'Anastasia, Monte Somma, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples Province, Campania, Italy
Dimensions
4.2 x 4.1 x 3.6 cm.
Specimen Grade
C
Photograph
www.iRocks.com Photo
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