Calcite (classic material)

Item Description

Calcite specimens from the Sweetwater Mine in Missouri are arguably the most iconic specimens from the Tri-State area of the Midwestern United States. These crystals feature a distinctive form, color, crystal size and overall quality which has made them popular with collectors for decades. This piece is a showy big cabinet sized display specimen hosting many sharp, lustrous, gemmy, soft yellow color scalenohedral crystals of Calcite measuring up to 3.5 cm associated with small metallic iridescent Chalcopyrite crystals on Dolomite matrix. Most of the Calcites are in good shape, though a few have cleaves. Very showy and three-dimensional, and much harder to find on the market now than they were 20+ years ago.
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.