This specimen from the Astillero Mine is a unique example of variegated, botryoidal apatite with a lustrous and slightly translucent appearance. The colour ranges from light green to a white/grey or light brown, and it fluoresces greenish-white under SW ultraviolet light. This is a rare piece of old material from the Astillero Mine.
Although located in the Mapimà Municipality, the Astillero Mine is 35 km west of the Ojuela Mine in a different mountain range. Specimens from this mine were often sold in Mapimà town, leading to frequent mislabeling as Ojuela specimens, as is the case with the label that came with this specimen. The distinctive mineralogical characteristics of this specimen emphasize its unique origin and enhance its scientific and collector's value.
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This specimen comes from the collection of 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 and the Mineralogical Society of America for over 30 years. Additionally, Peter has volunteered at the Redpath Museum for the past 21 years. In recognition of his significant contributions to mineralogy, Dr. Peter Tarassoff 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.
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