Analcime, et al. (look at the odd pink and blue spot) (ex Francesco Bedogne Collection)

Item Description

Like a lot of pieces from Mont Saint-Hilaire, there are several species present on this specimen, MOST of which we can identify. The main focus is on the stark white trapezohedral Analcime crystal measuring 2.1 cm across which is pierced by black, prismatic Aegirine crystals on a grey, partially etched crystal of Microcline. You can clearly see micro, sharp, gemmy, yellow pseudocubic Leucophanite crystals along with reddish-brown intergrown groups of Rhodochrosite along with some pseudohexagonal Catapleite groups and even a bit of a purple Fluorite. There is a spot on the back of the Analcime crystal that shows two unknown minerals. The larger portion of this area is a slightly pinkish hue, so it could be Serandite, but that crystal is dotted with tiny light blue spots. I found a crystal of Carletonite on mindat that shows pink and blue coloration (https://www.mindat.org/photo-166901.html), so this COULD be Carletonite, but I'm not 100% certain. The piece remains a very attractive an unusual association specimen of this classic (and now very hard to obtain) material. I've been told that collecting at the quarry is now forbidden, and very little material sadly is coming out. From the worldwide collection of famed Italian mineral collector, field collector and author, Francesco Bedogne of Sondrio, Italy (Collection #1504). 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.