Etched Pink Apatite crystal (ex Bill Larson Collection)

Item Description

While the famous Himalaya Mine is best known for its wonderful multi-color Tourmaline crystals, it also has the distinction of producing some really cool pink Apatite crystals as well. This particular crystal is certainly one of the more etched examples I've seen from the mine, as it is filled with deep cavernous openings on all sides after dissolving in a caustic solution underground. Now despite the heavy etching, the piece still retains its original hexagonal crystal form. Despite the lighter color on the exterior, there is a glowing pink hue that comes through the crystal when it's strongly backlit. This is certainly not your run-of-the-mill Apatite from this locality, and would make a great addition to any suite of pegmatite minerals, San Diego County specimens, worldwide Apatites, or just oddball specimens. It's important to note that the crystal is rather large for the locality, as you rarely seen 5+ cm Apatites from this mine. From the collection of Bill Larson of Fallbrook, California. Bill is a well-known gem and mineral dealer as well as a miner and collector. Bill is synonymous with minerals of San Diego County, and owned and operated famous mines such as the Stewart Lithia, the Tourmaline Queen, the Pala Chief and the Himalaya, producing some of the most iconic mineral specimens to come out of the area during the 1970s-1980s. Bill is also known as "Burma Bill" and traveled the world for decades in search of fine gems and minerals, and was directly involved in the in-person acquisition and importation of superb specimens and stones from Myanmar (Burma). You can read his biography at https://mineralogicalrecord.com/biographies_labels/larsonwilliam-f/