Stellerite with Laumontite (ex Francesco Bedogne Collection)

Item Description

This piece may look like Stilbite, but these specimens have been analyzed and confirmed to be Stellerite. Don't mistake them for their more common cousins from India, as these pieces are rare and some of the finest crystallized examples of the species out there. A predominant, sharp, lustrous, well-formed, rich peach-orange colored, layered "sword"-shaped crystal of Stellerite is accompanied by smaller Stellerites with stark white Laumontite on minor matrix. Great quality and very showy for the material. No damage on the front, but it does have a slight contact on the back. From the worldwide collection of famed Italian mineral collector, field collector and author, Francesco Bedogne of Sondrio, Italy (Collection #1048) with a label from Al McGuinness. 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.