Erythrite

Item Description

A nice representative piece of what are the finest Erythrite specimens in the world. Certainly, Bou Azzer has been the source of some excellent crystallized minerals, particularly Erythrite for many years. This piece features foliated "sprays" comprising sharp, lustrous, deep reddish-purple colored, monoclinic blades of Erythrite measuring up to 6 mm, which are associated with soft metallic grey colored crystals of Skutterudite, and very minor matrix. There are some bruises, so the piece is not completely unblemished, but still a good overall example of this classic 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.