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Stichtite

Name: Stichtite
SKU: 33160-PT
Availability: OutOfStock

33160-PT Category: _Archives –specimens pending sale or deletion

Zeehan, Tasmania

Australia

Dimensions: 8.8x6.8x2.5 cm

Price: CA

This specimen features lilac-colored, foliated stichtite intergrown with green foliated serpentine. The note "may contain barbertonite in admixture" refers to the possibility of a closely related mineral being present. This particular piece was acquired by Dr. Tarassoff in 1975 through an exchange with W. Birch, Curator of Minerals at the National Museum of Victoria.

Stichtite is a rare, hydrated chromium magnesium carbonate that forms as an alteration product of chromium-bearing serpentine. It was first discovered in 1910 in Western Tasmania, Australia, and was initially recognized by A.S. Wesley, the former chief chemist of the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company. The mineral was named in honour of Robert Carl Sticht, the mine manager at the time. Specimens of stichtite are highly sought after due to their vibrant colour.

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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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