Azurite (GEMMY crystals) with Malachite

Item Description

A beautiful old time piece from what used to be referred to as the famous El Cobre Mine (it's actually the Aranzazú Mine) in this prestigious copper producing area in Mexico. This small cabinet sized specimen features lustrous, sharp, bladed, beautiful rich blue crystals of Azurite which are associated with green Malachite on oxidized matrix. When backlit, some of the Azurites are VERY gemmy, showing a vivid electric blue color internally. The largest Azurite crystal measures 4 mm long. If you collect Azurite, or just attractive from Mexico, this is a great one for you. This piece could date as far back as the 1960s, but it's hard to know specifically when certain pieces were found.
From the collection of the recently deceased Alvaro Lucio, arguably the most well-known and accomplished mineral dealer and collector in Brazil. Alvaro graduated with a degree in civil engineering, mining and metallurgy from the Escola de Minas de Ouro Preto in 1949. He began his PhD in the United States and completed it at the Federal University of Minas Gerais. He worked as a professor of extractive metallurgy at UFMG, and also as a technical consultant for several companies in the sector. He was the author of several works, published in books and magazines around the world. He received several honors for his contribution to the development of metallurgy and the introduction of metallurgical physical chemistry in Brazil. His knowledge, solicitousness and enthusiasm will be greatly missed in the mineral world.