Corundum var: Ruby

Item Description

A fine quality, sharp, lustrous, doubly-terminated Ruby crystal with a purple-pink hue, free of matrix. One end of the crystal is not 100% complete, but otherwise it's in great shape. This is older material dating back many decades, and is not from the more contemporary finds at the Zazafotsy Quarry.
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.