Arfvedsonite with Orthoclase (ex Franceso Bedogne Collection)

Item Description

This piece is labeled as "Ilmenorutile" first, with Arfvedsonite second, but I honestly can't find any identifiable crystals of Ilmentorutile. There are some small specular crystals that could be this Nb-bearing Rutile variety, but it's hard to say. The main focus is really on the fine, sharp, lustrous, striated black crystals of Arfvedsonite which are beautifully set atop cream colored Orthoclase crystals. The predominant Orthoclase shows a beautiful "Carlsbad" twinning habit! The piece displays well from several angles and the Arfvedsonites are incredibly smooth with almost "wet" luster. Fine quality for this classic material from Mt Malosa. From the worldwide collection of famed Italian mineral collector, field collector and author, Francesco Bedogne of Sondrio, Italy (Collection #1964). 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.