Muscovite pseudmorph after Spodumene (classic locality)

Item Description

A fantastic and rarely seen pseudomorph from the famed Bennett Quarry in Buckfield Maine. This quarry dates back to 1916 and was the source of classic specimens of Beryl, Tourmaline, Hydroxylherderite, Tantalite-(Mn) and some superb pegmatitic RHODOCHROSITE crystals! This specimen is a very rarely seen example of golden-tan colored Muscovite that has completely replaced a striated prismatic crystal of Spodumene, sitting on beige feldspar matrix. The piece is showy and aesthetic, and it even sits nicely on its own without the aid of a base or clay. These are incredibly hard to find on the market, and if you're a pseudmorph collector a fan of New England localities or minerals of Maine, don't miss out on this one. The piece comes with an old Ray Woodman label from decades ago where it was valued at a mere $10.
From the collection of William ("Bill") (1927-2006) and Anne (1928-2021) Cook of Cleveland, Ohio (#7533). 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.