Fluorapatite (pink) with Albite
stock #15.1-586
La Marina Mine, Pauna
Boyaca,
Colombia
1.8 x 1.4 x 1 CM (thumbnail)
price: $290
Fall 2015
The Colombian pink Apatites from La Marina are very desirable but very hard to get in any quality. There have been no new finds for the past few years, and the La Marina Mine is currently idle. This is an older piece from the 2003-4 era, and has good color. Some of the later Apatites were found to fade and became colorless, but this is the older color-stable type. Minor edge wear is noted mostly on the backside, but overall in very good shape for one of these.
Fluorapatite (Apatite CaF)- classic locale
stock #14.1-078
Nevel Quarry, Newry, Oxford County
Maine,
United States
10.9 x 7.9 x 4.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $475
pre Tucson 2015 update
A large cabinet sized matrix of quartz and mixed pegmatite that hosts a dense mass of interlocked purple Apatite crystals. From the famed Nevel Quarry in Maine that is more famed for fine Tourmalines. The sharp and glassy crystals reach over 9mm but most are about 5-6 in size. The color is a good medium purple that is lighter than from the nearby Pulsifer Quarry. Specimens of this size and quality are very rare from the Nevel and this one also has a few tiny unidentified Phosphate crystals as well. Minor bruises are seen with magnification and some cracks are noted in the matrix yet the naked eye display is excellent.
Apatite CaF
stock #13.1-162
Anemzi Village, Midelt Province
High Atlas,
Morocco
6.5 x 5.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $925
Spring 2014
From a new small find about 60KM from Imilchil this was my selection as the very best specimen. Fine, sharp "asparagus" Apatites scattered on contrasting pink feldspar crystals. Well prepped and trimmed aesthetically, the large Apatite is 2.3CM standing and super gemmy. Nearly all Moroccan Apatites have easily noticeable damage, cloudy areas or other "issues" This is not at all like that, and is unusual for the attractive matrix which very few examples have. We have a few other examples from this find in the 200-300$ range that are good, but this specimen is exceptional!
Apatite- CaF exceptional royal purple
stock #AX-14B-099
Shigar, Skardu District, Baltistan
Gilgit-Baltistan,
Pakistan
4.4 x 3.4 CM (miniature)
price: $4250
Spring 2014
From an amazing small find in late 2012, this apatite has the intense purple color usually only seen in the finest Pulsifer crystals. Aside from the intense color that can not be well captured in photos, the faces are glass like with gemmy areas. In fine condition especially for such a large prism. The intense color is confined to an outer zone, so looking down the termination it is possible to see inside to the crystals grey-green interior. Far far better in person!
A fine, bright and glassy Apatite CaF sits esthetically in a nest of Muscovite. From the high elevation locality of Xuebaoding best known for great Scheelites, these are now very hard to find in such good condition. The main crystal is over 2 CM across (this is large for the locality) and has excellent pink-violet color. Strongly fluorescent and gemmy, a very attractive example.
Fluorapatite and Scheelitte on Muscovite
stock #8.1-414 GWT
Mt. Xuebaoding, Pingwu Co., Mianyang Pref.
Sichuan Province,
China
6.3 x 5.2 CM (miniature)
price: $575
A light purple Fluorapatite 1.6 CM sits next to sharp gemmy orange Scheelites on a Muscovite matrix. Most Apatite from Xuebaoding is more pink and this shade is very rare. Fantastic color contrasts, glass-like luster and good esthetics make this a very fine piece. Very clean of damage by eye, there are some very minor contacts and chipping found at 10x magnification. A top notch example!
A very well presented Apatite crystal of 2.7 CM (2.3 CM wide) dominates this small miniature. Shows great form and some transparency, the color changes somewhat from a pinkish hue to a greenish grey depending on the light type. Very esthetic and yet reasonably priced.
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