Kaolinite, Leucite

Unknown Owner

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The locality at Mt. Somma is actually the type locality for Leucite and one myriad of other species. The mountaind itself is an igneous mound that shows what remains when the cataclysmic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius took place in 79 A.D. which destoyed the city of Pompei. This historic specimen shows a great pseudomorph of reddish tan Kaolinite clay that replaced and maintained the shape of trapezohedra of Lecuite. The fact that this piece one belonged to the great gemologist George F. Kunz (Kunzite) is simply amazing, because you don't see Kunz labels on the market very often. The label states that he acquired the piece in 1902. A very interesting and unique pseudomorph from this incredibly old and well documented European locality. 4.2 x 4.1 x 3.6cm