Kyanite

Item Description

A classic gemmy blue Kyanite crystal on Quartz from Barra do Salinas, Brazil, one of the premier localities for the species in the world. The Kyanites from this area are some of the largest and deeply colored crystals of the species ever found, and some of them can be quite gemmy to boot. The crystal on this specimen has a deep sapphire blue shade with high luster on the front face and good internal translucency as well. Both ends of the crystal are incomplete, but the piece is still very presentable and it actually does sit on its own without a base or clay, though it's slightly precarious, so it really could benefit some having something more stable/secure holding it up.
From the collection of William ("Bill") (1927-2006) and Anne (1928-2021) Cook of Cleveland, Ohio (#8262). 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.