Corsi Collection of Decorative Stones

view of stone 670

Corsi 670, approx. 145 x 73 x 40 mm, © Oxford University Museum of Natural History

OUMNH Number: 670  
Name and quarry location: Obsidian, locality unknown  
Geological description: Obsidian. Black glassy rock speckled with round white amygdales or spherulites.  
Comments: Obsidian is a natural glass formed by very rapid cooling of volcanic lava. Clusters of feldspar crystals can form if the glass starts to devitrify, as seen in snowflake obsidian. The principal sources of obsidian in Europe during Corsi's time were the Italian volcanic islands of Lipari and Vulcano, and the lava flows of Iceland. It also comes from many other places around the world.  
References: Bauer (1904) 446-448; Corsi (1845) 261-262; Dietrich (2009); Price (2007) 213; Zeitner (1996) 194-195  
Further information:
 


Corsi's classification: Class 8. Volcanic stones; iii. Stones from extinct volcanoes  
Corsi's text: 158.5 Vetro vulcanico. Obsidianum. Obsidiano, Obsidio... Trovasi nell'Etiopia, ed in abbondanza presso Lipari: Ora si è scoperto anche in altri luogi  

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