Cuprite (oddly elongated crystals)

Item Description

A classic Bisbee Cuprite specimen featuring dozens of fine quality, sharp, well-formed micro crystals - measuring to about 3 mm - with deep blood red color internally when backlit, sitting on oxidized matrix. The crystals are predominantly octahedral in habit, but we found a couple of crystals that are notably ELONGATED, and they look like tetragonal prisms, like Zircon or Apophyllite (see micro photos). A great piece for any fan of Bisbee minerals.
From the collection of William ("Bill") (1927-2006) and Anne (1928-2021) Cook of Cleveland, Ohio (#12752). 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. The rare barium lithium beryllium phosphate Wilancookite was named in their honor in 2015.