Only a dozen kilos of crude oil was extracted. The deposit is practically exhausted.
Certain specimens were cut in facets, most in the cabochons. The color of this new gemstone is of an intense pink. It always presents numerous inclusions.
These tubular inclusions are responsible for the effect " eye of cat " observed on certain cabochons.
During the discovery, this stone had been classified as a Beryl rich in Cesium (Cs (Be2Li) Si6O18). But its crystallization is rhombohedral instead of hexagonal for beryls.
Its high content in Cesium confers it appropriate physical properties which allowed it to be classified as a new mineral species in 2003.
For more information see the article of JM. Arlabosse.
To know more about the mineralogy of Pezzotaite, see Mindat.org->
