Fluorapatite ("Faden") (rare locality specimen) (ex Kay Robertson Collection)

Item Description

A beautiful example of the rarely seen Apatites from Morro Velho with the distinctive pink hue. The crystals are notably sharp and gemmy with attractive tabular form that have grown together in a very hard to find "Faden" growth. The term "Faden" comes from the German word for "string" and typically is used in reference to Quartz specimens, but we see them in Apatites from time to time. When backlit, the crystals are very gemmy, nearly water clear in areas, and this is the best way to see the "Faden". The label says there is minor Quartz, but I don't necessarily see it. Older material from the 1970s. Priced at $750 in the inventory. Ex Kay Robertson Collection (#11955). 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 Welt" November-December 2017).