TYPE LOCALITY FLUORAPATITE ! (superb, circa, 1800s) ex Kay Robertson

Item Description

A superb and aesthetic miniature cluster of intergrown stunningly gemmy apatite crystals this historic old extinct Type Locality tin-tungsten mine, closed in 1990. The textbook hexagonal, very glassy, highly lustrous, striated and well-layered crystals, to 2.2 cm, have beautiful variable gray-blue-green color. The quartz points, to 1.7 cm, attached at the base are a super accessory. Moderate mustard-yellow fluorescence. Ex Kay Robertson Collection # 1757 and acquired in an exchange (with an older 1960 specimen) from Al McGuinness in the April, 1966. Kay is a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics (see the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record and the 50+ page article in the German Magazine "Mineralien-Welt" November-December 2017). The older Maucher label with the piece dates from 1909 to 1936. The back of Kay's label notes acquisition in a trade with the American Museum in New York City, in 1966. Classic and exceptional Sauberg Mine apatite from the Type Locality! Apatites of this killer quality are VERY RARE. They look like classic apatites from Panasqueira! Kay is one of the few people we would trust on such things, however.