Siderite pseudomorph after Pyrrhotite on Galena

Item Description

A showy and fine quality example of the classic pseudomorphs of Siderite after Pyrrhotite from the Turt Mine in Romania. This piece features gorgeous, resinous, tan colored micro crystals of Siderite which have replaced pseudo-hexagonal groups of Pyrrhotite measuring up to 3.2 cm across, sitting atop Galena matrix. The piece is in excellent condition, with no major damage that I can see. I love the three-dimensional arrangement of the piece, and it sits beautifully on its own without the aid of a base or clay. The specimen was mined in 2005. From the collection of William ("Bill") (1927-2006) and Anne (1928-2021) Cook of Cleveland, Ohio (#13934). 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.