Fluorapatite (rich color) on Quartz

Item Description

Paraíba is a small state in Brazil, but to the mineral and gem community, it usually invokes the image of electric colored copper-bearing Tourmaline crystals and gems. Now it should be noted that Paraíba isn't just a Tourmaline producer, as plenty of other species are found in in the state, 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 Smoky Quartz which plays hosts to lustrous, gemmy, strong blue colored crystals of Fluorapatite measuring up to 4 mm long. 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.