Blue Anhydrite (classic material) (ex Franceso Bedogne Collection)

Item Description

Anhydrite (anhydrous calcium sulfate, CaSO4) is a very close cousin of Gypsum - which is hydrous - CaSO4-2H20. Gypsum or "Selenite" is of course the more famous of these cousins from Naica, as crystals measuring up to 12 m (39 ft) in length, 4 m (13 ft) in diameter and 55 tons in weight have been discovered. This piece is a beautiful cabinet-sized display specimen of the classic blue Anhydrites from the world famous Naica Mine. Naica is known to have produced some of the most iconic specimens of Anhydrite in the world, and this is great example of said material. It features broad, thick, heavily striated crystals of Andhydrite free of matrix with what appears to be a bit of drusy smoky colored micro Calcite. The Anhydrites are terminated, and well-formed with the less common blocky form from Naica. Typically, the Anhydrites from this mine are a bit more slender and prismatic, but this one is stout and hefty. Valued at $1500. From the worldwide collection of famed Italian mineral collector, field collector and author, Francesco Bedogne of Sondrio, Italy (Collection #315). 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.