Strontianite, Quartz, Calcite, Weloganite

This specimen features colourless cyclic-twin strontianite crystals with etched 'c' faces. Accompanied by calcite, quartz and weloganite. X-Ray ID by G. Chao in 1974. Collected by Dr. Tarassoff in 1974, this piece exemplifies the exceptional quality and rarity of minerals from the Francon Quarry. The quarry, located in the central part of Montreal, was known for its unique alkalic intrusive sill in limestone. Unfortunately, it ceased operations in 1981 and will never reopen, making specimens from this location increasingly uncommon and highly valuable to collectors and researchers alike.

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.