Kutnohorite with Aragonite

Item Description

Here we have an exposed geode which lined vitreous brown botryoidal Kutnohorite and tiny "needle"-like crystals of colorless Aragonite. These fine and distinctive pieces are from the well-known lignite mines of Levane, Tuscany, Italy. Unique material and how often does one see Kutnohorite with this kind of form and color? You can read about this locality in an article in the Mineralogical Record from 1994.
From the collection of William ("Bill") (1927-2006) and Anne (1928-2021) Cook of Cleveland, Ohio (#7322). 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.