Description
An Italian classic from the Pete Richards collection, this specimen is comprised of intergrown, pseudohexagonal twinned crystals of aragonite. The crystals are sharp and lustrous, with a slightly greenish cream-coloured hue.
Under short-wave ultraviolet light, this specimen exhibits strong orange fluorescence, with internal zoning clearly apparent in the crystals (the zoning is not visible in normal lighting conditions). Under long-wave ultraviolet light, the aragonite is a bright cream colour. After UV illumination, the specimen exhibits bright green phosphorescence before fading (fades in seconds, but the phosphorescence is certainly distinct).
In good condition, some chipping and a couple of missing crystals. Additional colour is visible in UV where the crystals are missing.
The Giumentaro Mine was a famous Sicilian sulphur mine that ceased operations in 1984.
