Apatite (RARE purple color for the locality) (ex Bob Reynolds Collection)

Item Description

There are countless localities around the world for Fluorapatite, which is found in virtually every color of the rainbow, but unquestionably the most desirable hue for the species is purple. There are not many localities that produce fine quality purple crystals of Fluorapatite, and this piece is from one of the more unlikely mines for the material, the Cryo-Genie Mine in San Diego County, California. I can only remember seeing one other specimen from this locality. This mine is best known for its amazing Tourmalines, and the Apatites are scarce to say the least. This piece is an interesting toenail sized specimen comprising and central "core" crystal of Fluorapatite of a muted grey-brown color, but the exterior prism faces have what appears to be a secondary/epitaxial overgrowth of beautiful vivid purple crystals of Fluorapatite measuring up to 5 mm. You won't find many purple Apatites from any locality in southern California, and this piece would make a great addition to any suite of worldwide Apatites, pegmatite minerals or specifically San Diego County. Don't miss out! 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.