Azurite

Name: Azurite
SKU: 33212-PT
Price: 1600.00 CAD
Availability: InStock

33212-PT Category: Morocco - Various Species and Localities Tag: Featured

Touissit-Bou Beker, Jerada Prov., Oriental Region

Morocco

Dimensions: 8.2x5.1x2.8 cm

Price: CA

$1,600.00

This is an exceptional azurite specimen featuring a group of divergent, deep blue to nearly black complex bladed crystals with minimal malachite and limonite. Hailing from the renowned Touissit Mine in Morocco, one of the world's most famous azurite localities, this piece is a vintage treasure from the mine’s peak period in the 1970s-1980s. The specimen boasts a stunning 52mm terminated crystal, remarkable for its razor-sharp form, intense lustre, and prismatic structure with wide-spaced striations that give the crystal faces a glistening effect. The composition of two prominent azurite crystals, each with a wedge-shaped termination, creates an aesthetically striking piece that exemplifies the classic Touissit style.

These Moroccan azurites stand out even among azurite specimens from other celebrated locales like Tsumeb and Mexico. Acquired by Dr. Peter Tarassoff from a French dealer at the Montreal Gem and Mineral Club show in 1980, the piece captures a unique and now rare style of Moroccan azurite that hasn’t been replicated since. The overall crystal quality and historical value make this an outstanding addition to any azurite suite or Moroccan mineral collection.

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This specimen comes from the collection of Dr. Peter Tarassoff, a prominent figure in mineralogy, particularly known for his work at Mont Saint-Hilaire (MSH). His diligent collecting and examination efforts have led him to be the first to identify at least 35 species and discover 12 new species, not only at MSH but also at other alkaline localities. Dubbed the "Dean" of Mont Saint-Hilaire collectors, Peter was honoured with the naming of the new species petarasite in 1980. He has authored or co-authored numerous mineralogical articles and has been a member of the Mineralogical Association of Canada since 1964. Additionally, Peter has volunteered at the Redpath Museum for the past 21 years, where he was formally appointed the Honorary Curator of Mineralogy. In recognition of his significant contributions to mineralogy, Peter was awarded the 2017 Pinch Medal by the Mineralogical Association of Canada.

Peter's dedication to systematic collecting, curating his collection, and maintaining an archive of detailed historical and scientific information has greatly benefited the mineral sciences community both in Canada and globally. All specimens from this collection come with the original P. Tarassoff collection label.

Note: All prices are in Canadian dollars (CAD). International customers are charged in CAD, exchange rate is calculated automatically by your bank/paypal upon checkout.

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