Torbernite (classic material)

Item Description

The finest examples of the well-known copper uranium phosphate, Torbernite have been found at the famed Musonoi Mine in DR Congo, as the crystals don't get any bigger or better from another world locality. This piece is a large thumbnail sized, showy "rosette"-esque group featuring sharp, well-formed, tabular blades of rich forest-green Torbernite measuring up to 8 mm, without matrix. The piece is in good shape, though there are a few bruises in a couple spots. There aren't too many good thumbnail sized pieces of this material available, and keep in mind that pieces were mined decades ago, so they are few and far between on the market. From the collection of William ("Bill") (1927-2006) and Anne (1928-2021) Cook of Cleveland, Ohio (#12532). 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.