Aegirine with Quartz and Xenotime-(Y) (ex Francesco Bedogne Collection)

Item Description

Some of the world's finest Aegirine crystals are found at Mount Malosa. This particular piece features a superb, sharp, HIGHLY lustrous, deep greenish-black prismatic crystal of Aegirine accented by smaller Aegirine crystals with Smoky colored Quartz "wings" aesthetically flaring off each side. Additionally, small crystals of Xenotime-(Y) can be seen on the piece as well. It's difficult to find such SHOWY and eye-catching specimens of this material, and for a Pyroxene, you can't ask for much sharper or lustrous crystals. The Aegirines have truly "wet" luster, and this is about as fine as the quality gets for the species. The piece is in superb shape, though one of the Quartz crystals has a separation mark on the prism where another Quartz crystal once grew. Specimens like this are NOT easy to find from this locality. Valued at $700. From the worldwide collection of famed Italian mineral collector, field collector and author, Francesco Bedogne of Sondrio, Italy (Collection #442). Bedogne wrote dozens of articles and several books about the mineralogy of Italian Alpine localities such as Val Bregaglia, Val Masino, Val Codera, Val Spluga, Valtellina and the famous Val Malenco. He was also the founder of the Valtellinese Mineralogical Institute.