Brazilianite with Muscovite

Help improve this record

No owner is registered for this specimen yet. If it's yours or you know more about it, you can add the owner, provenance, publications and other details.

Córrego Frio mine near Linópolis in eastern Minas Gerais state, Brazil is the Type Locality for several rare phosphate mineral species, but the most well-known is Brazilianite. It seems remarkable that it took until 1945 for such a prominent gem mineral to be discovered, but it was the discovery of this gemmy mineral in a pegmatite at Córrego Frio mine in 1942 that lead to its identification and subsequent exploration for further occurrences. This small cabinet-sized display specimen represents a lot of Brazilianite from the Type Locality. It consists of an aggregate of large monoclinic bladed Brazilianite crystals presenting the classic pale yellow-green colour and bright glassy lustre, and associated with Muscovite mica and Albite. The largest Brazilianite crystal reaches an impressive 5.5 cm in length and is doubly-terminated, albeit partially at one end. It is terminated with a bladed edge at its lower end, but its upper termination is incomplete: not damaged, but slightly deformed where it has clearly grown in contact with another crystal. Lower down, several smaller, much gemmier bladed Brazilianite crystals look superb with stunning, sharp bladed, upper terminations. The larger of these crystals is 2.9 cm long and another 1.3 cm. For display, this specimen is actually more suited to an upright posture as this really enhances the sculptural qualities of this arrangement of fine Brazilianite crystals. It requires support in that position, but does look excellent.