Pyrrhotite with epitaxial Galena (ex Franceso Bedogne Collection)

Item Description

A notably good sized, sharp, well-formed brassy metallic colored prismatic crystal of Pyrrhotite from the famous mining district of Santa Eulalia, Mexico. The piece is virtually undamaged (save the bottom where it was removed from the pocket), but the best aspect of the main crystal is that it is studded with epitaxial silvery compressed crystals of Galena. This rare phenomenon is not often seen from Santa Eulalia, nor any other world locality. Small sparkling off-white crystals of Calcite can be seen on the specimen as well to break up the darker sulfides with a beautiful color contrast. BETTER in person, hard to photograph, but certainly worthwhile and attractive for this classic old time material form Mexico. From the worldwide collection of famed Italian mineral collector, field collector and author, Francesco Bedogne of Sondrio, Italy (Collection #1473), and accompanied by a label from noted New York City mineral dealer, Larry Conklin. 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.