Corsi Collection of Decorative Stones

view of stone 610

Corsi 610, approx. 145 x 73 x 40 mm, © Oxford University Museum of Natural History

OUMNH Number: 610  
Name and quarry location: 'Serpentina dell'Elba', from the island of Elba, Livorno, Tuscany, Italy  
Geological description: Actinolite rock, the actinolite in sprays up to a centimetre long. The large dark amphiboles (probably hornblende), also in radiating clusters, result from a later hydrothermal event.  
Comments: Corsi nos. 583, 607, and 610 all appear to be from the same deposit as samples of unpolished stone in the Museum's early 19th century Daubeny collection, also recorded as from Elba. The name 'verde dell'Elba' is more appropriate because this is clearly not a serpentinite. Corsi has mis-identified the black amphibole crystals as ‘ienite’ (‘yenite’, now known as ilvaite), a mineral that was first described from Rio Marina and Capo Calamita on the island of Elba.  
References:  
Further information:
 


Corsi's classification: Class 7. Serpentines; ii. Common serpentines  
Corsi's text: 151.35 Serpentina dell'Elba  

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