Fluorite with Heulandite (ex Franceso Bedogne Collection)

Gibelbach, Fiesch, Goms, Wallis (Valais), Switzerland
Cabinet, 11.8 x 8.9 x 7.2 cm
Start Time: 07/06/2017 6:30:00 pm (CDT)
End Time: 07/13/2017 6:48:56 pm (CDT)
Auction Closed

Item Description

A very rare seen Swiss Fluorite specimen from the ravine locality at Gibelbach, Switzerland. Most people are familiar with Swiss Fluorites in the form of pink octhahedra, but they are rarely found in green octahedra, and this one is especially attractive because it's associated with rarely seen pearly crystals of white/colorless Heulandite. It's not uncommon to find zeolites like Heulandite in Alpine kleft deposits, but it's very rare to find it associated with Fluorite. The piece hosts dozens of sharp, lustrous, gemmy, well-formed octahedra of fine green Fluorite measuring up to 1.3 cm with small crystals of Heulandite on granite matrix. Good quality all around, and what an interesting and unique Fluorite from the Swiss Alps. Valued at $900. From the worldwide collection of famed Italian mineral collector, field collector and author, Francesco Bedogne of Sondrio, Italy (Collection #553). 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.

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