Lazurite after Sodalite

Item Description

This piece is labeled as Lazurite "after" (coating) Sodalite, which I feel is accurate, as it's not a complete pseudomorph, but rather has a thin layer of Lazurite overgrowth Sodalite. If you look at the back of the specimen, you can see where the rich blue Lazurite is contacted, and the pale lilac Sodalite can be seen underneath. The crystal is still very sharp and well-formed, measuring 1.6 cm, and sitting beautifully on matrix. No major damage, save the back where the piece was presumably connected to the pocket wall. A very attractive and rare phenomenon in the mineral world.
From the collection of William ("Bill") (1927-2006) and Anne (1928-2021) Cook of Cleveland, Ohio (#12,091). 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.