FIOR14B-43
Vesuvianite (Type Locality)
Monte Somma, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples Province, Campania, Italy (TL)
Small Cabinet, 7.9 x 6.3 x 4.2 cm
Ex. Giancarlo Fioravanti
SOLD

This famous locality provided the first identified Vesuvianite back in 1795. This specimen is an old one, too - formerly in the Geology Museum of London (now merged with the BMNH). These gemmy, lustrous, root beer colored crystals range up to nearly 1 cm, and specimens of this quality from this location are so rarely available. They are so bright they look more like garnets and are practically gems, rare for the species. The basaltic matrix is green and microcrystalline, probably almost all made up of Augite or Olivine (Forsterite). An excellent, important specimen. Exchanged by Fioravanti in the 1970s.