SOREG14A-06
Hureaulite
Jocao Mine, Galileia, Doce valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Small Cabinet, 7.3 x 7.3 x 3.3 cm
Ex. Dr. Art Soregaroli
SOLD
Very similar in mineralogy to the famous Tip Top Mine in South Dakota, the Cigana Mine pegmatite is known for its suite of high-quality Phosphate species. Hureaulite from this locality has a more beautiful, intense, rich color and very good luster, and is arranged in such pretty aggregates that I consider these to be among the more beautiful examples of the species. This piece has a numerous, sharp clusters composed of well over a hundred 6 mm-size crystals, all translucent to gemmy. It is 3-dimensional and rises attractively from the matrix. This is good enough for the "display collector" who doesn't care about the rarity, and its at the same time good enough for the rare species collector who wants display-quality examples when possible. I have seen and handled many specimens from the sporadic finds here that seem to have started to crop up in the mid-90s, and of them this is by far one of the best and most aesthetic, for my taste. The best I saw came out with Luis Menezes in the late 1990s and I have not seen this quality since. This is a major specimen for the species and happens also to be large and beautiful.