Fluorapatite (RARE Alaskan locality!) (ex Al Kidwell Collection)

Item Description

This is an incredibly hard to find specimen of Fluorapatite from Alaska. It's actually first piece of the species that we've ever had to offer from this state. The label accompanying the piece said it came out of the Kingak Shale of the Arctic Creek area on Mount Michelson which is a high peak in the Romanzof Mountains, part of the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The piece hosts many sharp, well-formed, nearly colorless, hexagonal crystals of Fluorapatite measuring up to 6 mm associated with dark reddish-brown Siderite and minor Quartz on matrix. The piece is not without damage, but I think it's forgivable based upon the fact that it might be the only specimen of the material that you'll see, as this locality is in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, so collecting is not allowed. If you're a fan of odd locality specimens, Alaskan minerals or if you like Apatite (or minerals of the Apatite Group), this is a must-have specimen because it's highly unlikely another one will come along any time soon. From the worldwide mineral collection of Albert Lewis Kidwell (January 1, 1919 - August 16, 2008). Al was a well-known mineral collector and research geologist with Carter Oil Company and later Exxon Oil Company in Houston, Texas. The phosphate species Kidwellite was named in his honor in 1974.