Fluorapatite (rich color) on Quartz

Item Description

Paraíba to many people invokes the image of electric colored copper-bearing Tourmaline crystals and gems, which are named after this small Brazilian state. Paraíba isn't just a Tourmaline producer, as plenty of other species are found in Paraíba, including some beautiful blue Fluorapatite crystals. This piece came from a recent discovery at Campina Grande and features a gemmy, sharp, lustrous, colorless tabular crystal of Quartz which plays hosts to lustrous, gemmy, strong blue colored crystals of Fluorapatite measuring up to 3 mm long. Minor crystals of pale yellow Mica (Muscovite?) can be seen on the back of the piece along with small spots of peach colored Feldspar. The intensity of the color in the Fluorapatite crystals is significant, as smaller crystals like this are often very pale regardless of the color, so it's a big deal to see such a vivid blue hue in these crystals. A cool locality piece that would make a nice addition to any Brazilian collection, a phosphate suite, or a collection of worldwide Apatites.