Fluorapatite included with "Byssolite" (new find)

Ganadao (Gandahab), Mohmand Agency, Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Pakistan
Miniature, 4.2 x 2.7 x 1.4 cm
Start Time: 08/17/2017 6:45:00 pm (CDT)
End Time: 08/24/2017 6:45:32 pm (CDT)
Auction Closed

Item Description

This specimen was collected in the summer of 2016, and we were able to pick up several good pieces from this discovery. These are gorgeous "Alpine"-type specimens of Apatite with classic inclusions of "Byssolite" that are incredibly similar to the classic and desirable specimens from the Knappenwand in Austria. A sharp, well-formed, fairly thick, tabular, hexagonal crystal of colorless Fluorapatite is included with brilliant rich green colored fibrous Actinolite (variety: "Byssolite") to create a gorgeous two-tone effect. When the piece is backlit, the color really glows, and this particular shade of green is almost never seen in Apatite, even if it caused from the inclusion of another mineral. The front "c" face is lustrous and actually shows a cool radial hexagonal growth pattern on the surface. The prism faces are lustrous as well, and when I look around the specimen, I can't really find any true damage, maybe just some incomplete growth on the back where it detached from the matrix. There are only two places in the world where I've seen crystals of Apatite with these beautiful green "Byssolite" inclusions, Austria and Pakistan, so don't miss out on this eye-catching piece with wonderful color.

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