Calcite in fossil mollusc (RARE Virginia) Kay Robertson Coll.

Item Description

A rare, wonderfully preserved complete attached mollusc with no crushing or distortion from Norfolk, Virginia. The attached reef rock on the robust shell adds pizzazz. Two well-placed holes reveal that the interior is lined with tiny calcite scalenohedrons. Interestingly, parts of the chalky outer shell fluoresces a light lavender and the scalenohedrons a light yellow-white. This is an impressive large oyster, Isognomon maxillata (Deshayes). The common name for this fossil oyster is the Giant Tree Oyster or the Giant Purse Oyster. The fossil is Late Miocene in age (11.6 - 5.3 MYA). Ex Kay Robertson Collection # 2987 and acquired from Bourget. Kay is a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics (see the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record and the 50+ page article in the German Magazine "Mineralien Welt" November-December 2017). A rare and very fine complete Virginia mollusc with calcite crystals from the Miocene.