Nifontovite (extremely rare) (ex Franceso Bedogne Collection)

Rey y Reina Mine (King and Queen Mine), Charcas, Mun. de Charcas, San Luis Potosu, Mexico
Miniature, 5.1 x 4.1 x 3.2 cm
Start Time: 07/27/2017 6:45:00 pm (CDT)
End Time: 08/03/2017 6:47:35 pm (CDT)
Auction Closed

Item Description

Nifontovite is an extemely rare hydrated borate species, that is most well-known from two localities in Charcas, Mexico, although the type locality is in Russia. The species has only been found in FIVE places in the world! This piece is a great matrix example of Nifontovite featuring prismatic to somewhat blocky, GEM quality, colorless transparent crystals measuring up to 1.1 cm long sitting on matrix. Recently there was a discovery of some fine quality Nifontovite crystals from Charcas, but they were mostly all singles, and matrix specimens were unheard of. This piece is an older specimen, and this is a great opportunity for a rare species collector to pick up a fine matrix example of this very hard to find species. From the worldwide collection of famed Italian mineral collector, field collector and author, Francesco Bedogne of Sondrio, Italy (Collection #719). 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.

Did You Know We Offer Custom Bases?

Learn More