Calcite, Quartz, Dolomite

This specimen is covered in white, saddle-shaped dolomite crystals, with a surface coating of clear micro quartz and a cluster of yellow doubly-terminated calcite near the top of the matrix. It originates from the Sainte-Clotilde quarry (formerly Marcil quarry) near Sainte-Clotilde-De-Châteauguay, Montérégie, Québec, a site now closed to collectors. The quarry operated between 1980 and 2008 in the dolomitic limestone of the Beekmantown Formation. During the 1990s, large cavities in the quarry yielded superb calcite and quartz specimens. The locality was also known for producing excellent pyrite, chalcopyrite, anatase, sphalerite, barite, and occasional secondary copper minerals.

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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.