Chabazite

For its vivid colour, sharp form, and overall visual appeal, this is an exceptional thumbnail display specimen of chabazite—one of the more colourful examples of a zeolite species that often occurs in relatively drab or pale crystals. This piece features a well-composed pair of sharp, reddish-orange chabazite crystals from one of the world’s most renowned localities. The crystals exhibit the classic steep rhombohedral habit (chabazite is pseudo-rhombohedral but actually triclinic) and show attractive interpenetration twinning.

Collected by well-known Mont Saint-Hilaire researcher Les Horvath in 1974 and later gifted to Dr. Peter Tarassoff, this thumbnail is both scientifically and historically notable.

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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.