Hydroboracite (superb classic crystals)

Item Description

An excellent older specimen of Hydroboracite from the type locality in Kazakhstan featuring superb, sharp, well-formed, somewhat blocky, prismatic monoclinic crystals measuring up to 1.6 cm, sitting atop massive Hydroboracite matrix. The two main crystals on the piece are undamaged and look great up close. It's not common to find such attractive free-standing Hydroboracite crystals like this from any locality, let alone from the first place on the planet where the species was found. Without a doubt, this is the best piece of this material that we've had to offer from this locality in the auctions, as the two main crystals are better than anything we've seen on another specimen. Valued $1,500. From the collection of William ("Bill") (1927-2006) and Anne (1928-2021) Cook of Cleveland, Ohio (#8472). 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.