Phenakite

specimen number:
9302259

location:
Rio Piracicaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil

description:

A grouping of colorless mostly gemmy and lustrous phenakite crystals. Nice thumbnail that is in great condition for this classic Brazilian locality for the species.

Rio Piracicaba, located within the Iron Quadrangle of Minas Gerais, Brazil, is a historic mining municipality known for its complex geological setting of Precambrian metamorphic rocks and granitic pegmatites. Geologically, the region is situated near the contact between the Itabira Iron Formation and later intrusive granitic bodies, creating an environment rich in beryllium-bearing minerals. The area is particularly famous among collectors for producing some of the finest crystallized phenakite specimens in the world. Phenakite, a beryllium silicate, occurs here as sharp, lustrous, rhombohedral or prismatic crystals that are typically colorless, pale yellow, or light brown, often found on a matrix of quartz or mica. Historically, while the broader region has been a major center for iron ore and gold mining since the 18th century, the discovery of gem-quality phenakite in the 20th century established Rio Piracicaba as a critical locality for this rare species. The mine remains a significant reference point for high-quality, large-sized phenakite crystals that are prized for their exceptional clarity and well-defined crystal forms.

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