Muscovite var: Fuchsite

Item Description

A rich specimen of chromium-bearing variety of Muscovite, Fuchsite. This minaiture sized specimen features rich green colored, lustrous, platy, foliated crystals of Fuchsite free of matrix. There are some tiny pinkish spots on the back of the piece, which could be some kind of Garnet species, but it's hard to say for certain. Muscovite is not typically a specie that is found in colorful show display specimens, it's usually an accessory mineral to other more prominent species on most specimens, but in the case of these Fuchsites, they are the star of the show and really stand out for their exceptional color and visceral beauty. This piece was acquired March 10, 1978 according to the collection catalogue.
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.