Tapiolite

This specimen features tipiolite, a rare magnesium aluminum borosilicate, from Ross Lake in the Yellowknife area of the Northwest Territories. The mineral occurs in the granitic pegmatites of the region. Ross Lake is known for its complex, rare-element pegmatites, producing unusual and highly collectible minerals.

Tipiolite is prized for its scarcity and attractive crystal formations (though this specimen consists of cleavages). This specimen comes from the renowned collection of Dr. Peter Tarassoff, and before that the collection of R.W. Hodder, 1954; Hodder later became chairman of geology department at U. of Western Ontario.