spinner-caricamento
Share

University Museum of Earth Sciences verified

Rome, Lazio, Italy closed Visit museumarrow_right_alt

fullscreen
Beryl
fullscreen
Sodalite
fullscreen
Sulfur
fullscreen
Imperial topaz
fullscreen
Sicilian amber
fullscreen
The Eagle, meteorite di tipo condrite L
fullscreen
Garnet
fullscreen
Renazzo, chondrite type meteorite
fullscreen
Monte Milone, L-type chondrite meteorite
fullscreen
Diamante
fullscreen
Axinite
fullscreen
Magnesite
fullscreen
Dactyliotheca
Beryl
Sodalite
Sulfur
Imperial topaz
Sicilian amber
The Eagle, meteorite di tipo condrite L
Garnet
Renazzo, chondrite type meteorite
Monte Milone, L-type chondrite meteorite
Diamante
Axinite
Magnesite
Dactyliotheca

Other works on display

Description

This splendid example of Sicilian amber (also called simetite or more improperly succinite) is one of the points of pride of the Spada collection and more generally of the Museum of Mineralogy. Sicilian amber associates with a high aesthetic and gemological value - for the transparency and richness of the colors - an exceptional historical importance, to the point of making it one of the most appreciated and desired gems. The most abundant finds of this variety of amber occurred in a time interval between the first half of 1600 and the beginning of 1970. The simethite deposits have never been located, in fact, starting from the primary deposits located inland Sicilian, amber was removed during intense rainy events that caused landslides and disruptions; on these occasions the erosive action of the water detached pieces of different sizes from their natural location and dispersed them in the nearby countryside or in waterways and from these to the sea where they were found beached around Catania and on the southern coast of Sicily. The reason why we no longer have news about the discovery of amber samples after the 1970s is still unknown, but it could be attributed to the anthropic impact on the territory that has changed the talweg of the waterways that regulated the transport of this material, due to the construction of dams and dams. In conclusion, today Sicilian amber is no longer extracted and a sample like this, which entered in 1852 to enrich the collection of the current Museum of Mineralogy, represents an important testimony of Italian mineralogy and gemology.


Discounts and prices’ reductions with the Artsupp Card

With the Artsupp Card you can get, for the first time, discounts and reduced entrance tickets for Italian museums .

Discover more

Other artworks in Roma

What you can find on Artsupp

Artsupp is the museums’ portal through which it’s easy to discover art, exhibitions and artworks. Now museums in France, the UK, the Netherlands, Germany and Spain can also share their activities with users

About us