Hydroxylapatite

Item Description

Readers of the Mineralogical Record know that the great Sapo Mine in Brazil was recently profiled in the July/August 2009 issue. In 2004 some of the most unique and eye-catching specimens of Hydroxylapatite were discovered. These pieces feature flattened dipyramidal crystals with beautiful bicolor blue-green and yellow zoning. The majority of the specimens were found on Microcline but a few formed on pale smoky to colorless Quartz. This piece features a few attractive crystals of Hydroxylapatite measuring up to 2.1 cm across which are sitting atop a blocky crystal of "buff"-color Microcline. These specimens have virtually disappeared from the market, and the good ones are considered to be some of the best of the species ever found.