Stellerite

Tambar Springs area, New South Wales
Australia
Dimensions: 6.2x4.5x1.4 cm
Price: CA

$150.00

This specimen features a striking cluster of sharp, bladed, peach-orange stellerite crystals, the aggregate is doubly terminated and beautifully accented by several mounds of sparkling drusy quartz at the base. These are among the finest stellerite crystals in the world, originating from what many would consider a relatively obscure zeolite producing locality. Although both stilbite and stellerite are well-represented among Indian minerals on the market, this piece stands out for its rich orange hue, impressive crystal size, and overall quality. The thick, sword-shaped bladed crystals are completely free of matrix, and in excellent condition—with no damage except for where it was detached from matrix at the base. For collectors of zeolites or Australian minerals, this is a remarkable example of stellerite.

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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 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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D Joyce Minerals
Rare Canadian & Global
Minerals, since 1983

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