Wendy & Frank Melanson Collection Frank and Wendy Melanson put together a world-class thumbnail collection over the years, and one strength of the collection is the depth of certain Canadian localities. Although by no means comprehensive, the Mont St. Hilaire suite is particularly strong with fine examples of a wide array of species and associations. Mont St. Hilaire is one of the world’s greatest mineral localities with over 400 species represented, and it is the type locality for more than 60 of them.

This is a top-quality gem clear pseudohexagonal catapleiite crystal. Crystals of this rare zirconium mineral crystals can get huge, 15 cm or more across, but most are opaque to translucent. Gemmy ones like this are much harder to find.