Zektzerite (very rare locality specimen!) (ex Francesco Bedogne Collection)

Item Description

This is the first specimen of Zektzerite that I've seen from the famous Mt Malosa locality. As a matter of fact, this might be the first piece of Zektzerite that I've seen outside of Washington state. Small pale pinkish colored crystals measuring up to a few mm can be seen on the side of the specimen which are sitting on etched Quartz (?) matrix. These are what I believe to be the Zektzerite, but I honestly can't say for sure. It's possible that these crystals are Helvine, and the Zektzerite is hidden somewhere else on the piece, or possibly Helvine was mistaken for Zektzerite (?). I can clearly see crystals of Aegirine and Parisite, but the Zektzerite is a bit of a mystery on this one. If you collect rarities, or minerals of Mt Malosa, this is one that would be worth picking up for the reference if nothing else. From the worldwide collection of famed Italian mineral collector, field collector and author, Francesco Bedogne of Sondrio, Italy (Collection #2266). 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.