Vanadinite (big crystals) (ex Franceso Bedogne Collection)

Item Description

A beautiful old time Vanadinite not from the famous locality at Mibladen, but rather from the older diggings at Touissit! The Touissit crystals have a distinctive form and color that easily distinguishes them from their Mibladen cousins. This piece features fairly large crystals for Morocco (and the species in general) that measure up to 2.2 cm long with a soft golden-orange hue and a resinous exterior luster. Virtually all of the crystals are damage free and how excellent prismatic hexagonal form. I love the way the crystals are intergrown to create a showy and aesthetic display piece. Some of the Vanadinites are actually doubly-terminated as well. Valued at $950. From the worldwide collection of famed Italian mineral collector, field collector and author, Francesco Bedogne of Sondrio, Italy (Collection #1241). 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.