Andradite Garnet (ex Franceso Bedogne Collection)

Item Description

A RARELY seen matrix specimen of rich orange colored Andradite Garnet on matrix from this lesser known locale in Iran. Very sharp and lustrous modified trapezohedral crystals with a strong golden/cinnamon colored Garnets are sprinkled all over the underlying matrix of what I believe is dark green Actinolite or possibly some kind of Pyroxene. The largest crystal measures 8 mm, and the majority of them are in very good shape. Great aesthetics and quality and certainly from older material dating back a few decades. From the worldwide collection of famed Italian mineral collector, field collector and author, Francesco Bedogne of Sondrio, Italy (Collection #897). 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.