Rutile from Val d’Ossola, Italy

Rutile from Ossola Valley, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province, Piedmont, Italy

Small specimen of quartz matrix containing rutile from somewhere in the Ossola valley, Italy.

This is a bit of an unknown, unfortunately. Sold cheap as the provenance is uncertain.

It comes with a printed label stating:

Rutil
Forster
Crevola 85
Val d'Ossola, Itallen

Under this label, a handwritten label can be seen, with the following writing:

Rutil
Crevola
Val d'Ossola
Italien 85
H Forster

Unfortunately, the typed label cannot be safely removed. As such, the specimen comes in a poor condition older box, because both labels are attached to this.

I believe H Forster is the collector, or perhaps a former owner. 85 is likely either an area code or the year in which it was collected.

Unfortunately there are two locales that could be 'Crevola';

• Crevoladossola Quarry, Crevoladossola, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province, Piedmont, Italy
• Colmine di Crevola (Monte Colmine), Varzo, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province, Piedmont, Italy

Rutile is found at Crevoladossola Quarry, and I expect this to be the locale but cannot verify this.