Siderite

This classic miniature specimen from the Poudrette Quarry at Mont Saint-Hilaire, Québec, features several sharp, well-formed, intergrown, rhombohedral siderite crystals. The crystals exhibit a lustrous dark greenish-brown to light brown coloration. The underside shows where the piece was once attached to the wall of the vug. While sizeable siderite crystals were relatively common in the early days of collecting at Mont Saint-Hilaire, high-quality specimens like this have become increasingly scarce in recent years.

The siderite crystals on this piece are in excellent condition overall, with only minor roughness and no significant damage. Collected by Peter Tarassoff in 1966, this is a fine and representative example of siderite from one of the world's most mineralogically diverse localities.

Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, is regarded as one of the most mineralogically diverse sites in the world, having produced hundreds of rare and unique mineral species, many in world-class specimens. Once open to field collectors, the quarry is now strictly controlled and completely off-limits, making specimens like this increasingly difficult to acquire. This piece is a significant and desirable example of the exceptional mineralogical richness that made Mont Saint-Hilaire so famous.

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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.