This specimen features a flat plate of fluorapophyllite with a pseudo-cube-octahedral habit and a gorgeous satin lustre, with one crystal on the plate reaching 1.6 cm. The crystals exhibit a sparkling appearance due to inclusions of tiny marcasite or possibly pyrite crystals. Fluorapophyllites from this locality are distinctive for their beveled pseudocubes with grey centres outlined by white. This striking piece originates from a giant old copper mine in Murdochville, now closed for decades. Murdochville was founded in 1951, with mining and smelting operations commencing in 1955 and ceasing in 2002. Two main types of ore bodies were present: replacement skarns at Needle Mountain and porphyry-copper at Copper Mountain. The orebodies in the metamorphosed sediments at Needle Mountain occurred at distinct stratigraphic levels, named A, B, C, and E zones. The A-zone was mined as an open pit, while the other zones were accessed via underground methods. The fluorapophyllite came from the C-zone. Most minerals from this locality are found in massive form or on a microscopic scale, but the area is best known for its fine specimens of fluorapophyllite crystals. This specimen, with its distinct crystal habit and inclusions, exemplifies the unique mineralogy of this historic mining site.
This specimen was a gift to Dr. Tarassoff from W. MacIsaac, Gaspe Copper MInes Ltd, 1970.
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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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