Labradorite (var: Spectrolite) (ex Bill and Anne Cook Collection)

Item Description

Mindat.org states that Spectrolite is a "variety of Labradorite showing strong labradorescence due to very fine exsolution of K-feldspar". The material shows gorgeous rainbow iridescence when rotated in the light, with the colors ranging from rich blues and purples to greens, oranges, and golds. The material is typically used for lapidary purposes, and this piece is a wonderful polished slab featuring eye-catching zones of peacock blue, along with pastel gold, green and orange hues. From the collection of William ("Bill") (1927-2006) and Anne (1928-2021) Cook of Cleveland, Ohio. 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.