Calcite with Copper

Item Description

A lovely old-time association specimen featuring sharp, well-formed, translucent, silvery colored scalenohedral crystals of Calcite measuring up to 1.6 cm, which play host to dendritic groups of Copper. Some of the Copper groups have a deep reddish-brown patina on the surface, but others have altered/oxidized to velvety green Malachite. We've photographed the Copper groups up close to better show the quality of the crystallization. 
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.