Home > Laskowski â…© – April 6 > MS2016 Moraesite
Moraesite - Sold
- Fazenda Pomarolli
- (Pomarolli farm)
- Linópolis
- Minas Gerais
- Brazil
- 5.7 × 4.3 × 2.8 cm – Small cabinet specimen (under 10 cm)
Moraesite is a hydrous beryllium phosphate mineral. Lindberg et al. (1953) named the mineral in honor of Luciano Jacques de Moraes (1896-1968), Brazilian mineralogist and geologist. The type locality is elsewhere in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Moraesite here forms radiating white needles to 1 mm covering a boxwork of iron oxides. Minor relict beryllonite is also present, presumably as a primary mineral, whose dissolution provided components for crystallization of secondary moraesite. From the collection of E.R. Laskowski (1949-2020), a mining engineer who retired to Tucson, Arizona.