Witherite and Strontianite (2 piece set) (ex Francesco Bedogne Collection)

Item Description

A cool two piece set from Hardin County, Illinois but not featuring the typical Fluorite or Calcite that one would expect. This set comprises a fine quality Witherite with incredibly sharp, well-formed faces on the orthorhombic (pseudohexagonal) crystals that have a soft smoky hue. Minor Alstonite, Benstonite and purple Fluorite is associated on the piece as well. The largest Witherite measures 2.1 cm. Great quality up close. These are some of the finest examples of Witherite in the world. The second piece in the set is a radiating group of snow-white Strontianite free of matrix. The piece is complete on the front and when you flip it over, you can see hollow "casts" underneath that probably formed after a preexisting mineral like Anhydrite. A reall cool pair from this famous mining district in southern Illinois. From the worldwide collection of famed Italian mineral collector, field collector and author, Francesco Bedogne of Sondrio, Italy (Collection #299 and 300). 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.