Corsi Collection of Decorative Stones

view of stone 173

Corsi 173, approx. 145 x 73 x 40 mm, © Oxford University Museum of Natural History

OUMNH Number: 173  
Name and quarry location: Diaspro tenero di Sicilia, from Castellammare, Trapani, Sicily, Italy  
Geological description: Bioturbated limestone, most probably of the Cretaceous-Eocene Scaglia Rossa Formation. It is a fossiliferous pelagic biomicrite crowded with planktonic forams and calcispheres together with some molluscan debris. Note the calcite-filled fractures.  
Comments: Corsi says that he has followed Borch's 'Lythologie Sicilienne' (1778) in attributing names and quarry locations to his Sicilian soft jaspers, but not all his locations are mentioned by Borch, nor do descriptions always match.  
References: Borch (1778) 130-161; Corsi (1845) 155-156; Dubarry de Lassale (2005) 290; Evangelista (1998); Montana (1998) 64-68; Price (2007) 150-151  
Further information:
 


Corsi's classification: Class 1. Marbles; Section 2. Veined marbles; Species 11. Soft jaspers of Sicily  
Corsi's text: 67.13 Diaspro tenero di Sicilia. Rosso, e bianco di Castellamare  

Full entry in English