HUNTITE,A MINERAL USED IN ANTIQUITY

An unusual occurrence of huntite CaMg₃(CO₃)₄, found in a wooden box pertaining to the cargo of a sunken Roman ship of imperial age in the Golfo di Procchio on the north coast of Elba is described. The huntite has been identified on the basis of chemical analysis, thermo-gravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction and electron microscope images. Having ruled out its origin by the reaction of sea water on some pre-existing material it is concluded that the huntite represented the original content of the box. The origin and the provenance of huntite and its possible use are discussed.