Quartz pseudomorph after Aragonite (rare locality specimen)

Item Description

A great piece for any pseudomorph collector. These specimens are virtually unseen in today's market, and they are some of the most attractive Aragonite pseudomorphs from anywhere. This is a rare and excellent pseudomorph featuring what were once prismatic pseudo-hexagonal Aragonite crystals that have been replaced by Quartz (var: Chalcedony) to create sculptural and striking floater cluster. Included Hematite gives the translucent crystals a reddish-brown color. No major damage that I can find, and the piece is showy and looks good from several angles. From the collection of William ("Bill") (1927-2006) and Anne (1928-2021) Cook of Cleveland, Ohio (#11251) (with an accompanying label from Gilbert Gauthier). 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.