Fluorapatite (circa 1800s)

Item Description

In the old world of European mineral collecting, these purple apatites were treasured like gold. Remember, before Panaquiera or Brazil or Afghanistan, purple apatite was so rare almost nobody could own one. A rich and large hand sized specimen such as this, from the great German ore location in Saxony, would have been literally princely in any major collection of the 1700-1800s. Most of them, such as this, likely came out in the early to mid 1800s. This handsome display size combination piece, featuring gemmy and lustrous Fluorapatites on Quartz, shows off a classic purple color. The largest of the Fluorapatites is about 2 cm across, and they are all, to some extent, beautiful also simply as decoration against the contrasting Quartz. Most are complete. Many are gemmy and translucent; and several are actually transparent! Classic yellow fluorescence. Note that this specimen lost Kay's label, so we cannot trace its exact history - though they are known from the mid to late 1800s in particular. This large, hand specimen would be a treasure in any old German classics collection. It is much more impactful and weighty, in person, than it appears in photos. Valued $2000-plus.

This specimen is donated by THE ARKENSTONE in honor of mentor Kay Robertson, as part of the 2023 Dallas Mineral Collecting Symposium benefit auction, with proceeds benefiting Mineralogical Record, Rocks & Minerals, Tucson Gem and Mineral Society, and mindat.org. Thanks to all of our participants!

Billing for this auction will occur on Monday, August 21st, for payment using PayPal or a credit card. Shipping will be billed at cost.