Summary: Aluminous Ca-rich clinopyroxenes (5·95−7·63 wt % Al₂O₃) are next in abundance to leucite in the basic alkaline potassic lavas from Monte Somma and Vesuvius, Italy, and occur as phenocrysts (1 to 7 mm), microphenocrysts (< 1 mm), and groundmass granules. Zoning of various types is a conspicuous feature in these pyroxenes. Optical and chemical data are presented and a comparison is made between these pyroxenes and similar ones from alkali basalts. It is known from published data that Al₂O₃ fluctuates strongly in the oscillatory zones of Vesuvian pyroxenes. This can be explained as due to temperature variation in the magma, to magma variation in silica content due to contamination, to oscillations in leucite precipitation, or to a combination of these factors. Of these three factors, oscillations in leucite precipitation, as it appears, would be more effective than the others since it would have a greater control over Si/Al availability in the magma.