Sabinaite (extremely rare) (ex Francesco Bedogne Collection)

Item Description

Sabinaite is an extremely rare sodium titantium zirconium carbonate named for Ann Phyllis Sabina Stenson, a Canadian mineralogist who first collected the mineral. The specie is only found in two localities worldwide, both in Canada. The type locality is the famous Francon Quarry, but most collectors have only seen specimens from the renowned Poudrette Quarry at Mont Saint-Hilaire. This thumbnail specimen is a wonderful example of Sabinaite featuring tiny pseudo-hexagonal (monoclinic) whitish crystals with Pyrite(?) on matrix. A great representation of an incredibly rare species. From the worldwide collection of famed Italian mineral collector, field collector and author, Francesco Bedogne of Sondrio, Italy (Collection #1688) 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.