Tellurite, Spiroffite

This specimen features a typical quartz matrix with fractures revealing lustrous, rich yellow prisms of tellurite, accompanied by vitreous, light lilac spiroffite crystals—mostly in massive form. Spiroffite is a rare and little-known mineral named in honour of Professor Kiril Spiroff, a Bulgarian-American mineralogist at the Michigan College of Mining and Technology. Found in only three localities worldwide, spiroffite occurs in the oxidized zones of gold-tellurium deposits, including its type locality at the Moctezuma Mine in Sonora, Mexico, and in highly silicified pyritic shales at the Joe Mine in Arizona, USA.

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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.