Azurite (fine classic material) (ex Bill and Anne Cook Collection)

Item Description

Some of the finest crystals of Azurite in the world were found at the famous Tsumeb Mine. The incredible quality, crystallization, size and even gemminess(!) seen in these crystals puts them in a different league from nearly all other Azurites. This piece is a wonderful large thumbnail / toenail sized piece featuring a pair of sharp, lustrous, well-formed, "sword"-shaped prismatic crystals of Azurite with a deep midnight blue color. Minor attached white Dolomite can be seen at the base. With very strong backlighting, there is a slight indigo hue than can be seen along the very thin edges of the crystals. No major damage and a fine classic example of this beloved material from what most people consider to the be the single greatest mineral locality in history. From the collection of William ("Bill") (1927-2006) and Anne (1928-2021) Cook of Cleveland, Ohio. This husband and wife duo were actively involved in the mineral world for many decades. Bill was a PhD geologist, and Anne was a mathematician, and they both were very serious mineral collectors. Bill served for many years as adjunct curator of mineralogy at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and Anne was inducted into the Micromounters' Hall of Fame on October 12, 2019. Both Bill and Anne, at various times, served as president both of the Mineralogical Society of Cleveland and of the Micromineral Society of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and Anne was inducted into the mi The rare barium lithium beryllium phosphate Wilancookite was named in their honor in 2015.