Hilgardite with Boracite

Item Description

A beautiful association specimen featuring the rare hydrated borate, Hilgardite which is associated with Boracite from the Boulby Potash Mine. I've never seen another specimen of Hilgardite outside of this locality from anywhere in the UK, and the Boulby Mine is without a doubt the premier locality for the species in the world. The species actually was first discovered the Choctaw Salt Dome in Louisiana of all places. It should be noted that the labels mention this specimen is Hilgardite-3TC (a structural polytype of Hilgardite), which used to be called Parahilgardite, but I cannot say for certain if this is accurate, as I haven't been able to find a piece of Hilgardite-3TC from this locality, so we're leaving it as Hilgardite. This piece features beautiful salmon orange-pink colored triclinic crystals of this desirable species associated with soft bluish colored semi-spherical Boracite. It certainly would make a great addition to any rarities collection. You don't see many of these on the market, and this one is certainly worth picking up for anybody interested in the material. Hard to find, and very attractive from the standpoint of color.
From the collection of William ("Bill") (1927-2006) and Anne (1928-2021) Cook of Cleveland, Ohio (#8972), with labels from Lindsay and Patricia Greenbank, along with Scott Williams. 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.