Synthetic Zinc

Item Description

This piece was originally labeled as Native Antimony from Prince William Parish in New Brunswick, Canada, but the label was changed to Synthetic Zinc, and the back of the label says that this designation came from noted rarities expert, Bill Pinch. With that said, it's an interesting specimen of a native metal that is rarely seen on the market. The piece has a bright silvery-white hue, with reflective metallic luster and defined crystal faces. It's important to note that Native Zinc is exceedingly rare in nature, most of what you see out there is the result of slag or smelter re-crystallization of Zinc (i.e., post-mining/anthropogenic zinc).
From the collection of William ("Bill") (1927-2006) and Anne (1928-2021) Cook of Cleveland, Ohio (#3607). 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. The rare barium lithium beryllium phosphate Wilancookite was named in their honor in 2015.