Corsi Collection of Decorative Stones

view of stone 56

Corsi 56, approx. 145 x 73 x 40 mm, © Oxford University Museum of Natural History

OUMNH Number: 56  
Name and quarry location: Marmo carnagione, marmo cannellino scuro, probably from the Umbria or Marches regions of the Apennines, Italy  
Geological description: Pelagic limestone from the Upper Cretaceous to Eocene Scaglia Rossa Formation. A bioturbated fossiliferous biomicrite with abundant planktonic forams, calcispheres and other skeletal debris. It has calcite filled structures and stylolites, and pink coloration constrained by a slender calcite-cemented fracture ('paesina' effect).  
Comments: Corsi did not give a quarry location for this pink limestone, but it is almost certainly that quarried in the Apennines and long used for building and decoration in that area. For example, the stone from Monte Subasio near Assisi was used strikingly in the decoration of the Basilica of Sant Clara in Assisi. The rectangular marking on the specimen is a residue of glue from a label and demonstrates how very porous this stone is. It does not readily take a high polish.  
References: Corsi (1825); Price (2007) 112  
Further information:
 


Corsi's classification: Class 1. Marbles; Section 1. Monochrome marbles; Species 4. Flesh-coloured marbles  
Corsi's text: 34.6 Marmo cannellino scuro... questo si crede antico  

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