Muscovite (color-zoned crystal)

Item Description

When I first saw this crystal, I automatically assumed it was from Brazil, as I've seen similar color-zoned Mica crystals from various localities in Minas Gerais, so imagine my surprise when I saw it was from the Bumpus Quarry in Maine! This locality wasn't necessarily a great specimen producer, but it did yield some gigantic Beryl crystals, which measured up to 11 meters in length!! This specimen is a thin cleavage of Muscovite with a "diamond"-shaped form featuring an opaque, pseudo-metallic, pale silvery-golden colored interior, but when the piece is backlit, you can see a thin layer of gemmy/translucent golden Muscovite that separates the inner layer from the exterior. With strong backlighting, you can see a tiny bit of light peeking through the outer "rind" of the piece, which is almost the same color as the central portion of the piece. If you collect Mica species, minerals from New England (specifically Maine), or if you just like esoteric locality specimens, don't miss out on this one, it's the only one of its kind that we've ever had to offer in the auctions. From the collection of William ("Bill") (1927-2006) and Anne (1928-2021) Cook of Cleveland, Ohio (#6639) with a collection label from R. G. Woodman of Auburn, Maine. 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.