HEF23-41
Fluorapatite
Panasqueira Mines, Covilha, Castelo Branco, Portugal
Miniature, 3.7 x 3.0 x 3.0 cm
Ex. Kurt Hefendehl
$1,600.00 Payment Plan Available
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Fluorapatite is one of the signature species from the storied Panasqueira Mines in Portugal and the old material from the 1960s and 1970s had the best purple colors. The Apatites in this cluster are glassy, translucent to gemmy, and have a pleasant purpley-blue color. The Apatites also fluoresce orange, which is a nice variation on the typical yellow of most. The largest crystal is doubly-terminated and a full 2.7 cm across, face to face. Crystals in the cluster are intergrown to a degree but it is very geometric and sharp so that even the smaller ones retain some level of their identity. For good measure, there is a small, gemmy tabular crystal emerging out of the main termination, which is an excellent touch. The large crystal on the bottom has the one contact, and the rest are pristine. A very fine miniature by any standard, this piece well-represents the great Fluorapatites from Panasqueira from the era of their heyday.