Stillwellite-(Ce) (very rare)

Item Description

Here we have a very hard to find specimen of Stillwellite-(Ce), a rare-earth borosilicate species only found in less than 2 dozen localities on earth. The crystals from the Dara-i-Pioz Massif (an alkali massif hosting boron-rich granitoids) in Tajikistan are some of the finest examples of the species ever seen. This piece is a lovely thumbnail hosting an orange-brown color, sharp, lustrous crystal measuring 1.0 cm across, sitting on a gemmy shard of colorless Quartz. If you collect rarities, don't miss out on this notably hard to find and show thumbnail specimen from this remote locality. From the collection of William ("Bill") (1927-2006) and Anne (1928-2021) Cook of Cleveland, Ohio (#7692). 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.