Galena and Sphalerite on Quartz

Item Description

A lovely association specimen from the lesser known Brownley Hill Mine in Cumbria (Cumberland), England. The piece is highlighted by a silvery colored cuboctahedral crystal of Galena measuring about 8 mm across, associated with stark brown-black, vitreous crystals of Sphalerite sitting on colorless, gemmy, prismatic Quartz crystals on matrix. The main Galena crystal is intermixed with Sphalerite, and it appears that the Sphalerite may be epitaxially overgrowing the Galena, though there are spots where it looks like the Galena is almost covering parts of the Sphalerite. No major damage, and quite attractive when viewed up close.
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.