Beryl (var. Aquamarine)

With a lustrous, moderately translucent to gemmy appearance, the piece exhibits teal-blue and ivory hues, with the richest coloration in the more transparent areas. Today, aquamarines from Groton are considered historic or classics, often found in museum collections.

The specimen is a bit rough with only half of a termination, and is partially covered with massive quartz at the bottom. While not the most pristine aquamarine, beryl crystals from this locality are rare. Mining at this site dates back to the early 20th century, with operations by the Strafford Mining Co. in 1943–1944. The open pit, initially 100 feet long and 15 feet deep, expanded to 150 feet long and 40 feet deep. Though the mine primarily produced mica, its pegmatite veins occasionally yielded notable aquamarine specimens, making pieces like this an uncommon and valuable find.

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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