Apatite (prismatic) on Pericline (ex Kay Robertson Collection)

Item Description

A classic and rare Fluorapatite from the Swiss Alps featuring an unusually prismatic hexagonal crystal measuring 1.2 cm long sitting a thin bladed crystal of Albite (var: Pericline). I've only seen two or three Apatites from this locality, and this piece is the ONLY prismatic example I've seen. Typically Alpine Apatites are tabular and "flat", but the habit on this one is exceedingly rare for the environment. The color is a very pale lilac-pink (nearly colorless), but the crystal is notably sharp, gemmy and lutrous. A few smaller Apatites can be seen on the piece as well, but the main crystal is the focal point. What an attractive and rare example of these hard to find crystals from Val Casatcha. Ex Kay Robertson Collection, with a note on the back of the label that states it was purchased from Vlad Pusec. Kay is a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics (see the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record and the 50+ page article in the German Magazine "Mineralien Velt" November-December 2017).