Prehnite ''cast'' after Anhydrite

Item Description

These wonderful "casts" are well-known from the trap rock quarries in northern New Jersey. They are some of the most distinctive examples of Prehnites in the world. These specimens formed as Prehnite covered preexisting crystals of Anhydrite, which eventually were dissolved away, leaving the hollow Prehnite "casts", which formed in attractive shapes. This piece almost has what is known locally as a "snakehead" shape, but it's not quite there. It's still a lovely miniature sized display specimen featuring lustrous, beautiful green color aggregates of Prehnite that have formed a full ''cast'' after Anhydrite. Under halogen lighting, it shows a lighter green hue, but under fluorescent lighting, the green color is stronger. A really cool and eye-catching specimen from this historic discovery at the Prospect Park Quarry. It must be noted that this locality is defunct, and will sadly no longer produce specimens like these.
From the collection of William ("Bill") (1927-2006) and Anne (1928-2021) Cook of Cleveland, Ohio (#2516). 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.