Corsi Collection of Decorative Stones

view of stone 284

Corsi 284, approx. 145 x 73 x 40 mm, © Oxford University Museum of Natural History

OUMNH Number: 284  
Name and quarry location: Derbyshire fossil marble, from Monyash, Derbyshire, England; perhaps Ricklow quarry.  
Geological description: Carboniferous Limestone; Lower Carboniferous crinoidal limestone with spar cement cut by styoltized calcite-filled fractures.  
Comments: The fossilised remains of crinoids (sea lilies) and corals are particularly abundant in Carboniferous Limestone, a geological formation that outcrops in various parts of Britain including the Derbyshire Peak District. It has been quarried for centuries and used as a building stone, a decorative stone, and now mainly as crushed aggregate. Little is extracted for decorative purposes today. The 6th Duke of Devonshire, who gave Corsi this specimen, was responsible for bringing some of the Derbyshire stone to Rome and there are rare examples of its use in pietre dure work of the early 19th century. The name 'Ash' most likely refers to Monyash or nearby One Ash Grange in Derbyshire. The sample matches the description of Monyash marble from the Monyash quarries in Derbyshire given by Watson (1916). It has also been suggested that the stone comes from Ricklow quarry, in Upper Lathkilldale, near Monyash.  
References: Hewitt (2001); Lee (1888) 31-32; Price (2007) 170; Rogers (2008) 64-66; Watson (1916) 13-18  
Further information:
 


Corsi's classification: Class 1. Marbles; Section 3. Lumachellas; ii. Italian lumachellas  
Corsi's text: 86.52 Lumachella di Ash presso Monyash in Inghilterra  

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