Vesuvianite (ex Kay Robertson Collection)

Item Description

A classic example of the famous Vesuvianites from the Monzoni Mountains in Val di Fassa, Italy. A sharp, well-formed, lustrous, rich brown colored crystal measuring 6 mm is set in grey Calcite. The label accompanying the piece states that it COULD be Garnet, but the Grossulars from this area are trapezohedral in habit with more of a golden color, and this crystal is clearly a Vesuvianite. The label also says "this locality would fool anyone - just like Crestmore!". This is a reference to the obvious similarities between these specimens and those from the Crestmore Quarries in Riverside County, California. Ex Kay Robertson Collection (#3552). 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).