Manganite (old classic) (ex Bill and Anne Cook Collection)

Item Description

An attractive piece of the world-famous Manganites from the renowned type locality for the species, Ilfeld, Germany. These renowned specimens are not only the most iconic examples of Manganite around, but the locality is completely defunct, and good specimens are rarely offered on the market. These crystals are instantly recognizable with their unique prismatic, striated form and beautiful lustrous exteriors. This piece is actually a seldom seen matrix specimen on host rock, typically you'll only see the Manganite crystals on either massive Manganite or white Baryte. This small cabinet piece features good quality, sharp, lustrous, jet-black, prismatic crystals of Manganite measuring up to 1.3 cm associated with chalky Baryte on matrix. The crystals are in decent shape, though there is some roughness in few spots. Still a good overall example of this historic and important material from Ilfeld. 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.