Hydromagnesite, Artinite

This sculptural specimen is composed primarily of white hemispheres of hydromagnesite, accompanied by delicate acicular sprays of artinite clustered together on the crust, with some remaining serpentine matrix. A very rich example from the classic Staten Island locality, this piece was most likely collected in the 1960s or earlier, and specimens from this site are now rarely seen on the market.

Artinite is an uncommon hydrated magnesium carbonate with a hydroxyl group, while both artinite and hydromagnesite are rare Mg-carbonates that typically form as low-temperature alteration products in serpentinized ultrabasic rocks. They often occur as veinlets or crusts associated with other secondary minerals. This exceptional combination of hydromagnesite and artinite makes for a noteworthy specimen from a highly uncommon urban mineral locality in New York City.

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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