Opal (rare locality specimen)

Item Description

A very hard to find, showy matrix specimen of Opal (Precious Opal / Fire Opal) from the Boi Morto Mine in Piauí, Brazil featuring a translucent, creamy orange colored group measuring 5.6 cm, aesthetically perched atop the underlying matrix. The Opal has an almost "waxy" luster, and glows with a rich mandarin orange hue when backlit. I love the sculptural nature of the Opal, as it is almost resembles a modern art carving. A fantastic, showy and frankly rarely seen cabinet sized matrix display piece of this fairly obscure 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.