Analcime (rare red color) with Natrolite

Item Description

A rarely seen piece from the Copper Falls Mine in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This piece is filled with many small (about 2 mm) textbook trapezohedral crystals of Analcime which a characteristic rare red hue (presumably due to some form of copper inclusions?) associated with prismatic Natrolite crystals that range from reddish in color to a white/beige hue, sitting on matrix. The piece is best seen under magnification, and we've photographed the little Analcimes with a macro lens to better illustrate the quality.
From the collection of Daniel ("Dan") W. Behnke (July 31, 1932 - January 20, 2020) of Glenview, Illinois. Dan was an Associate Photographer of both the Mineralogical Record and Rock and Minerals magazines. He served as the Micromount chairman of the Midwest Federation of Mineralogical Societies from 1981 to 1988. He was elected to the National Board of Directors of the Friends of Mineralogy in 1989, and the Micromounters Hall of Fame in 2007. He was a beloved member of the mineral collecting community, most notably for his supreme skill at photomicrography. If you've ever seen any of Dan's micro photos on mindat.org, it's easy to see why he was one of the best in this field. You can read his obituary at https://www.nhscotthanekamp.com/obituaries/Daniel-W-Behnke?obId=10633628