Fluorapatite (classic color change crystals)

Item Description

Panasqueira is one of the more classic "modern" European localities. This area hast produced some amazing specimens over the last few decades, and they are certainly some of the most iconic minerals from the European continent. Panasqueira has produced some amazing Apatite (Fluorapatite) specimens in its history, arguably among the finest in the world. This piece features several excellent quality, sharp, lustrous, translucent, hexagonal, tabular, hexagonal Apatite crystals measuring up to 3.2 cm which are sitting atop tan Siderite on underlain Arsenopyrite and Chalcopyrite. The piece is in superb condition shape on the display side and it's a very attractive display specimen from this well-known mining district. The most interesting aspect of the piece is that the Apatite crystals show a beautiful color change when viewed in different lighting. In sunlight the crystals show a lovely green hue, but under halogen lighting they are a fine silvery-blue color, and we even saw a steel-lilac color under a particular LED lighting. From the worldwide collection of famed Italian mineral collector, field collector and author, Francesco Bedogne of Sondrio, Italy (Collection #679). Bedogne wrote dozens of articles and several books about the mineralogy of Italian Alpine localities such as Val Bregaglia, Val Masino, Val Codera, Val Spluga, Valtellina and the famous Val Malenco. He was also the founder of the Valtellinese Mineralogical Institute. Valued at $3,000 in the inventory.