Goosecreekite, Quartz

Goosecreekite is a rare zeolite species, significantly less common than other Indian zeolites, and the finest known examples come from the Deccan Traps of Maharashtra, India—particularly from the basalt quarries around Nasik and Jalgaon. This specimen features several snow-white, radiating clusters of Goosecreekite crystals attractively set within a sculptural vug lined with sparkling quartz points in basalt matrix. The well-defined, lustrous crystal groupings stand out for their sharp form and aesthetic arrangement. Specimens like this from Jalgaon are considered the most impressive crystallized examples of the species ever found, far surpassing material from any other locality, including Goosecreekite’s type locality at the New Goose Creek Quarry in Leesburg, Virginia. Without these Indian finds, Goosecreekite would remain an obscure species with few display-quality examples known to collectors.

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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.