Tanteuxenite-(Y) (very rare) (classic locality)

Item Description

Please note, this piece was labeled as Yttrotantalite (Tantalite-(Y)), but these specimens have been confirmed to be the rare tantalite Tanteuxenite-(Y). For reference, please see the specimen posted on mindat.org at https://www.mindat.org/photo-145731.html which confirms this labeling mistake. The description suggests that this could potentially be called Tantalpolycrase-(Y), but they are listed as Tanteuxenite-(Y). This piece is a wonderful single crystal showing good orthorhombic prismatic form, with an almost "rusty" oxidized golden-brown color on the surface, but if you look at the contact spot on the underside, you can see it has a resinous black hue. Certainly the only piece we've ever had to offer, and it has the distinction of coming from Ytterby, Sweden which is an important mineral locality historically, as FOUR rare-earth elements (Yttrium, Terbium, Erbium and Ytterbium) were all named after the Ytterby Mine (they were first recognized as coming from Gadolinite-(Y) crystals that date back to the 1700s and 1800s). Additionally, the elements Gadolinium, Holmium, Thulium, Scandium, Lutetium and Tantalum were all first discovered from specimens that were mined at this locality. From the collection of William ("Bill") (1927-2006) and Anne (1928-2021) Cook of Cleveland, Ohio (#10,667). 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.