Villiaumite, Fluorite, Pectolite

This specimen features a striking carmine-coloured mass of villiaumite displaying distinctive cubic cleavage. Accompanied by lavender fluorite and white pectolite it makes for a seldom-seen association piece from Mont Saint-Hilaire. The villiaumite crystals, exhibit the bold, vivid raspberry red colouration typical of this halide mineral, which is visually unique among the Mont Saint-Hilaire suite. While much of the specimen is cleavages under close inspection, the overall quality remains quite good, especially given the desirability of gemmy villiaumite specimens from this locality. Originally discovered at its type locality in Greenland, villiaumite was later found in Russia (1982), Canada (Mont Saint-Hilaire, 1989), and Namibia (1992). This specimen was collected by Peter Tarassoff in 1986.

Mont Saint-Hilaire is considered one of the most mineralogically diverse localities in the world, having produced hundreds of rare and unique mineral species—including many of the finest best-of-species specimens ever found. The entry on mindat.org states that there are 440 different species found there, and this quarry is the type locality for 73 of them. Once accessible to collectors, the quarry is now under strict control, with field collecting entirely prohibited. As a result, specimens like this one have become increasingly scarce and sought after by collectors.

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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.