Pyromorphite

Pyromorphite is a celebrated secondary lead mineral known for its exceptional crystal forms and vibrant colours, with some of the finest specimens originating from the Bunker Hill Mine in Idaho between the late 1970s and early 1980s. This piece falls into that date range as it was purchased by Dr. Tarassoff in 1987.  These iconic specimens are renowned for their distinctive yellow-orange colour (in this case a beautiful bright yellow!) are highly sought after, especially since the mine's closure in 1988. This particular piece features translucent, lustrous golden-yellow to slightly yellow-green crystals with hoppered barrel-shaped octahedrons. This is a top miniature-sized specimen from a long closed deposit.

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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