Cuprite with Mimetite

Item Description

A classic association specimen from the famed Tsumeb Mine featuring fine, sharp, lustrous, well-formed, dark red metallic crystals of Cuprite measuring up to about 3 mm, associated with a few thin prismatic crystals of yellow Mimetite with notable striations on the prisms. The Cuprite crystals are primarily octahedral in habit, but some show small cubic and dodecahedral modifications. We've photographed the piece up close to better show the quality. A beautiful piece of this historic material.
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.