Fluorapatite & Muscovite

Item Description

Classic and sculptural miniature combination from the renowned Panasqueira Mines of Portugal. An impressive, 3.4 x 2.8 x 2.5 cm, textbook, hexagonal, fluorapatite crystal is artistically partially enveloped by a dense field of small muscovite plates. The highly lustrous, glassy, well-striated crystal appears to be a layered blue-gray under normal lighting. BUT, backlighting reveals the layered crystal to be translucent to gemmy, with beautiful cornflower-blue zones and a near colorless, gem area in the upper right corner. Part of the underlying matrix is quartz. Interestingly, only the top layer of the fluorapatite crystal fluoresces ghostly white under LW UV light. See the fine 2014 Mineralogical Record article in Vol. 45, No. 1. Ex Kurt Hefendehl Collection, a well-known German collector who amassed a world-wide collection of over 6000 pieces. A very showy fluorapatite combination in this size range with an unusually colored and fluorescent fluorapatite crystal from the famed locale.