Corsi Collection of Decorative Stones

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view of stone 809

Corsi 809, approx. 145 x 73 x 40 mm, © Oxford University Museum of Natural History

OUMNH Number: 809  
Name and quarry location: Porfido serpentino nero, from Wadi Umm Towat, near Gebel Dokhan, Eastern Desert, Egypt  
Geological description: Trachyandesite porphyry with white phenocrysts of plagioclase feldspar.  
Comments: This stone was known to the Italian scalpellini as porfido serpentino nero. It is from the Precambrian basement rocks of Wadi Umm Towat.  
References: Borghini (1997) 276; Dietrich (2009); Harrell (2010a); Lazzarini (2002c) 235; Price (2007) 210  
Further information:
 


Corsi's classification: Class 15. Porphyry; Species 2. Porphyries (Lacedaemon); i. Antique 'serpentine' porphyry  
Corsi's text: 200.13 Altro [Serpentino. Marmor Lacedaemon. Marmo verde Lacedomonio. Marmo Lacedomonio... presso Crocee villaggio della Laconia, vi fosse la cava del serpentino... marmo Taigeto, perchè trovavasi presso un monte di tal nome... Tenario perchè il monte Tenaro è prossimo al Taigeto... spartano perchè Sparta è contigua al monte Taigeto... Lacedemonio altro nome con cui Sparta si Chiama... Lacnio perchè Sparta e nella Laconia... smeraldo... che molti smeraldi Laconici si trovavano presso il monte Taigeto.]  

Full entry in English

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