Corsi Collection of Decorative Stones

view of stone 239

Corsi 239, approx. 145 x 73 x 40 mm, © Oxford University Museum of Natural History

OUMNH Number: 239  
Name and quarry location: Lumachella di San Vitale, from Pigozzo, Val Squaranto; Verona, Veneto, Italy  
Geological description: Fossiliferous microsparite limestone, the matrix rich in bioclasts. Large, fragmentary bivalves are the reef-forming bivalve Lithiotis. They are recrystallised/replaced by sparry calcite, but original calcite shells survive in places.  
Comments: This is an example of lumachella di San Vitale, a Lower Jurassic limestone containing the elongate sparry calcite-filled shells of the reef-forming bivalve Lithiotis. Although named after the village of San Vitale di Roverè, a source cited by both Pollini (1817, 1825) and Jervis (1889), this rock outcrops at a number of locations in the Anguilla, Squaranto and Pantena valleys of Verona, as well as other places to the north and east, so Pigozzo may well be the correct provenance. The painted number on the back of the specimen confirms a Verona/Vicenza provenance (see Verona.pdf for more information).  
References: Antonelli (2003); Fraser (2004); Jervis (1889) 144; Price (2007) 168  
Further information: Verona.pdf
 


Corsi's classification: Class 1. Marbles; Section 3. Lumachellas; ii. Italian lumachellas  
Corsi's text: 80.7 Lumachella di Pigozzo, nel Veneziano  

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