Sainfeldite with Hornesite and Vladimirite (extremely rare association specimen) (ex Franceso Bedogne Collection)

Item Description

This is the first specimen of Sainfeldite that we've had to offer from the Aghbar Mine, not to mention the only one associated with Hornesite and Vladimirite! Now Vladimirite is not reported from the Aghbar Mine specifically, but it has been reported from other localities around Bou Azzer, so it's safe to assume it could have occurred at Aghbar. With that said, both Sainfeldite and Vladimirite are calcium arsenates, so it would stand to reason that they could form together on the same specimen, and Hornesite is a magnesium arsenate, so they fall together chemically. This specimen hosts a resinous / waxy layer of semi-botryoidal fuchsia-pink colored Sainfeldite which plays host to white, opaque radial groups of Vladimirite with gemmy, colorless monoclinic blades of Hornesite. The Vladimirite and Hornesite are small, and we have photographed them with a Canon MP-E 65 mm macro lens to better illustrate their quality. To have all three species together on one specimen is certainly rare and noteworthy, and if you collect minerals of Morocco, this is a MUST HAVE for your collection. Do not miss out on this extremely rare and beautiful association specimen. From the worldwide collection of famed Italian mineral collector, field collector and author, Francesco Bedogne of Sondrio, Italy (Collection #2311). 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.