Niobophyllite (rare silicate) w/ Quartz (Bedogne Coll.)

Item Description

Niobophyllite is the RARE Nb-rich analogue of Astrophyllite. The world's finest examples easily come from Mount Malosa and this is a superb example. Intergrown clusters of strikingly beautiful and aesthetic golden iridescent plates form a very sculptural miniature. The glassy, gemmy terminated quartz crystal with a bit of feldspar on one side are super accessories. This exceptional and RARE 360-degree piece is from the collection of Dr. Francesco Bedogne # 1963. Dr. Bedogne, 1942-2012, was a well-known Italian mineralogist, prolific author, field collector and collector. Read his biography in the Mineralogical Record Biographical Archive: http://www.minrec.org/labels.asp?colid=118.