Corsi Collection of Decorative Stones

view of stone 40

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

OUMNH Number: 40  
Name and quarry location: Giallo antico, from Chemtou, Tunisia  
Geological description: Fine-grained limestone, weakly metamorphosed and sheared, with yellow ferruginous stylolites, and scattered euhedral microcrystals of dark orange-brown iron oxide (goethite pseudomorphs after pyrite?) concentrated particularly in the stylolites.  
Comments: All authorities agree this is giallo antico; marmor numidicum; Numidian yellow from Chimtou (the Roman Smitthus), Tunisia. Corsi had presumably meant Brianza, the area between Milan, Como and Lecco, a source of sandstones and conglomerates but not yellow limestones or marbles (Jervis,1889; passim.)  
References: Blagrove (1888) 83; Borghini (1997) 214-215; Corsi (1845) 90-91; Jervis (1889) passim.; Lazzarini (2002c) 243-244; Mielsch (1985) 56, taf.15; Price (2007) 90-91; Watson (1916) 271-274  
Further information:
 


Corsi's classification: Class 1. Marbles; Section 1. Monochrome marbles; Species 3. Yellow marbles ii. Yellow marbles of Italy  
Corsi's text: 31.6 Giallo di Brianzo nel milanese  

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