Fluorite with Galenobismutite(?) inclusions

Item Description

This specimen is labeled as Fluorite with Galenobismutite inclusions. I cannot say for certain if this is 100% accurate, as there are several other acicular sulfides / sulfosalts reported from Yaogangxian, including Bismuthinite, Galenobismutite, Boulangerite, Jamesonite, Berthierite and Cosalite, and it's impossible to visually confirm their identity, so take it with a grain of salt. This piece features a group of fine quality, sharp, well-formed, gemmy, silvery-blue colored cubic crystals of Fluorite which play host to very thin "needle"-like inclusions of a grey-black hue that are labeled as Galenobismutite, but could possibly be another species. The piece is in very goo condition, and the inclusion are best seen when the piece is backlit. From the collection of William ("Bill") (1927-2006) and Anne (1928-2021) Cook of Cleveland, Ohio (#9004) (with an accompanying label stating the piece was originally in the collection of the great mineral dealer and collector, Ed Swoboda). 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.