Kinoite with Fluorapophyllite (ex Franceso Bedogne Collection)

Item Description

Although the best known examples of Kinoite come from the Christmas Mine, most people don't realize that the type locality is actually further south in Pima County. This is a good specimen of this well known calcium copper silicate featuring rich blue Kinoite with commonly associated colorless Fluorapophyllite. The species is said to get its name from the Italian Jesuit missionary Eusebio Francisco Kino (1645-1711). You can actually see a statue of him along the Kino Parkway in Tucson. From the worldwide collection of famed Italian mineral collector, field collector and author, Francesco Bedogne of Sondrio, Italy (Collection #447). 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.