Quartz (var Smokey)

This hard to come by specimen from the well-known Moat Mountain granite pegmatite locality in New England features many well-formed, microcline crystals with a creamy white hue. On top are several dark, super lustrous smokey quartz crystals. While the locality is famous for its smoky quartz, fluorite specimens are far less common. Situated within the Conway Granite in Hale’s Location near the Albany town line, this piece is in excellent condition, with only minor peripheral damage, and displays well.

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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.