Quartz (var. Amethyst)

This exceptional miniature amethyst specimen rivals examples from any locality worldwide. It features a stout, doubly-terminated, sharply formed, crystal with good lustre and lovely pastel purple terminations transitioning to a nearly colourless interior. There are some smaller associated quartz crystals on the back side. High-quality American amethysts are fairly rare, especially compared to prolific global localities. This piece originates from a mine that closed to public digging in 2022.

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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.