Bastnasite-(Ce) (ex Franceso Bedogne Collection)

Item Description

The famous Trimouns Quarry in France was probably the best known locality for Bastnasite-(Ce) in the world until Zagi Mountain came along. These fairly new specimens have simply redefined the species for size and quality of crystals. This small cabinet specimen features a 5 mm rich honey-orange color, hexagonal crystal of Bastnasite-(Ce) with sharp faces and good luster aesthetically sitting on granite gneiss matrix. So many of the crystals from this locality are either singles off matrix, or dull and opaque, but this piece really stands out becuase it's a fine quality matrix example of the species, regardless of the size of the crystal. It seems as though this locality has produced less and less of these outstanding specimens over the last few years, and if you don't have one in your collection, just keep in mind that these crystals are superb for what they are. Also, it is difficult to obtain colorful crystals of any rare species - as many of them are opaque - without color or too small to see with the naked eye. From the worldwide collection of famed Italian mineral collector, field collector and author, Francesco Bedogne of Sondrio, Italy (Collection #2043). 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.