Bixbyite (ex Francesco Bedogne Collection)

Item Description

A classic Bixbyite specimen from the famous Thomas Range in Utah. Aside from Red Beryl, this is the most sought after and recognizable mineral from the area. The Bixbyite crystal is the focal point as it has rather sharp, lustrous faces with the classic modifications along the corners. As far as I can see with the naked eye, the crystal is undamged (save the back where it was attached to the pocket wall) and measures 7 mm. This rare iron manganese oxide is not seen is fine crystallized specimens very often these days, and these are among the most classic of species from the western United States, ESPECIALLY on matrix! Probably mined circa 1970s-1980s. From the worldwide collection of famed Italian mineral collector, field collector and author, Francesco Bedogne of Sondrio, Italy (Collection #1832) with two labels from Renato and Adriana Pagano. 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.