Kaolinite pseudomorph after Leucite (ex Kay Robertson Collection)

Item Description

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 largest crystal measures up to 1.8 cm across. The label accompanying the piece states it was donated (presented) by Mr Weidhaas (Ernie Weidhaas) on Thursday, May 3, 1934. A very interesting and unique pseudomorph from this incredibly old and well documented European locality. Ex Kay Robertson Collection. 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 Velt" November-December 2017).