Apatite (Phosphorite) (ex Bob Reynolds Collection)

Item Description

A really unusual and incredibly eye-catching specimen of Phosphorite which according to Wikipedia is defined as, "a non-detrital sedimentary rock that contains high amounts of phosphate minerals. The phosphate is present as fluorapatite Ca5(PO4)3F typically in cryptocrystalline masses referred to as collophane-sedimentary apatite deposits of uncertain origin. Phosphorite deposits often occur in extensive layers, which cumulatively cover tens of thousands of square kilometers of the Earth's crust." This specimen is unlike any other Phosphorite I've seen as it has such a unique and artistic form that almost resembles an old fountain in the middle of a town square or a special vase. The flowing / organic form of the piece combined with the beautiful mix of silvery-grey and beige colors make for a very attractive and one-of-a-kind specimen. A few small areas of resinous white Calcite can be seen on the piece as well. This piece comes with an older label that dates the piece approximately back to the 1960s-1970s. From the collection of Robert (Bob) Reynolds who passed in August of 2020. Bob was a well-known fossil and mineral expert and former Curator of Earth Sciences at the San Bernardino County Museum in California. The rare phyllomanganate-chromate species Reynoldsite was named in his honor in 2011.