Sabinaite

Name: Sabinaite
SKU: 32465-PT
Price: 100.00 CAD
Availability: InStock

32465-PT Category: Canada (Quebec, Francon Quarry) - Welonganite, Dawsonite, and Other Rare Minerals Tag: Rare

Francon Quarry, Montreal, Quebec

Canada

Dimensions: 3.3x2.1x1.6 cm

Price: CA

$100.00

This specimen, despite its modest appearance, features a white crust displaying rare white pseudo-hexagonal crystal species sabinaite accompanied by a few grey and yellow weloganite crystals and accompanying dresserite spheres on matrix. Dr. Tarassoff purchased this sample from an Ottawa dealer at the Montreal Gem & Mineral Club show on November 19, 1983, the label notes that this find of sabinaite was verified by A. Sabina herself. Sabinaite is an extremely rare sodium titanium zirconium carbonate first described in 1980 for an occurrence in the Francon Quarry on Montreal Island. It is named after Ann Phyllis Sabina Stenson (1930–2015), a mineralogist who worked for the Geological Survey of Canada.

Sabinaite can be found only in the Francon Quarry, its type locality, and the Poudrette Quarry at Mont Saint-Hilaire in Quebec, Canada. It occurs in vugs in silicocarbonatite sills at the Francon Quarry and in cavities in a sodalite syenite within a gabbro-syenite complex at Mont Saint-Hilaire. The sabinaite crystals exhibit the diagnostic pearly luster and hexagonal crystal shape outline, making this an excellent sabinaite specimen.

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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 and the Mineralogical Society of America for over 30 years. Additionally, Peter has volunteered at the Redpath Museum for the past 21 years. In recognition of his significant contributions to mineralogy, Peter was awarded the 2017 Pinch Medal by the Mineralogical Association of Canada.

Peter's dedication to systematic collecting, curating his collection, and maintaining an archive of detailed historical and scientific information has greatly benefited the mineral sciences community both in Canada and globally. All specimens from this collection come with the original P. Tarassoff collection label.

Note: All prices are in Canadian dollars (CAD). International customers are charged in CAD, exchange rate is calculated automatically by your bank/paypal upon checkout.

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