Wulfenite

This specimen features an abundance of bright orange, gemmy, lustrous wulfenite crystals in "window pane" tabular formations that adorn much of the surface of the piece. The vivid, eye-catching crystals are characteristic of the Rowley Mine, located in the Painted Rock Mountains, approximately 27 miles west of Gila Bend, Arizona. This locality, discovered in 1900, began production around 1909, with its final recorded mining activity in 1923. The locality is now a small scale operation, mining only for specimens and material like massive chrysocolla.

Known for producing some of the finest wulfenite in North America, the Rowley Mine wulfenites are considered classic and collectible due to their rich orange colour and well-formed crystals. This specimen stands as a superb example of the mineral’s striking characteristics from a significant and celebrated locality.

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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.