Fluorapatite (very gemmy!)

Item Description

When I first saw this piece, I thought for sure it had to be from the Austrian Alps. Well it's from the same kind of deposits as the famous Austrian Apatites, but this one is from Pakistan. For the size and quality, it's a significant Apatite specimen reminiscent of those from the famous Salzburg and Tyrol regions high in the Alps. The piece is fine quality, not only for an Alpine-type "kleft" deposit, but for any world locality. It's actually much bigger than most Austrian Apatites by comparison, and the quality is superb for what it is. The first thing one will notice is that the piece is incredibly gemmy and WATER-CLEAR in areas. The sharp, lustrous basal faces on each side, which are highlighted by the well-formed modifying prism faces makes for a real treat in terms of crystallography. A small amount of Clinochlore can be seen on the prism face near the top of the specimen. The piece is in excellent shape on the display side with only a few nicks and a slight separation on the back. Obviously it's contacted on the bottom where it was removed from the pocket, but this is forgivable. The piece was somewhat difficult to photograph, but when you hold this little jewel in your hands, you really appreciate the quality. It's also slightly thicker than most Apatites from this kind of deposit. Hard to find on the market these days, and really worthwhile for somebody who likes Apatites or minerals from Alpine-type deposits.