Pyrite pseudomorph after Aegirine(?) with Albite

Item Description

Here we have an interesting miniature-sized specimen from this classic locality featuring sparkling metallic golden Pyrite, pseudomorphing after thin prismatic crystals of Aegirine(?), accented by small white bladed crystals of Albite. We've only had a select few of these specific specimens from MSH, and looking through a few databases, I can't much else out there for comparison, which isn't unexpected for this diverse locality, as there have been many one-of-a-kind finds over the years. The famous Poudrette Quarry at Mont Saint-Hilaire is one of the world's most celebrated and unique mineral localities. This complex nepheline-syenite / pegmatite locality has produced some of the most distinctive minerals in the world, and a piece like this can round out an MSH suite.
From the collection of Dr. Robert ("Bob") Byers of the San Francisco area. Bob is a spinal surgeon, who started collecting minerals as a boy when his father took him on geology field trips. Bob acquired this specimen from Frank and Wendy Melanson in 2009.