Fluorite (classic material)

Item Description

The Fluorite specimen from Southern Illinois are some of the most iconic examples of the species from any US locality. Now that the entire Cave-In-Rock District is finished, we will never see any more of them. This piece is a striking example from the famous Minerva No. 1 Mine featuring several sharp, well-formed, lustrous, gemmy cubic crystals featuring a combination of golden and purple hues measuring up to 5.2 cm sitting on matrix. The front / display side of the piece is in good condition, I can see one small cleaved corner on one of the secondary smaller Fluorites, but it's in great shape overall. if you're a fan of this material, or Fluorites in general, don't miss out on this really attractive big showy piece of this beloved material.
Valued $3,500.
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.