Fluorapatite, Quartz, Siderite: Panasqueira Mine, Covilhã, Portugal

Description

Species: Fluorapatite, Quartz, Siderite

Locality: Panasqueira Mine, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Portugal

Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.5 x 4.7 cm.

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Portugal’s Panasqueira mines are known for their world-class crystals of colorful fluorapatite, often associated with ferberite, quartz, fluorite, siderite, and arsenopyrite. This is a beautiful group of showy, lustrous rich blue fluorapatite crystals to ~1.2 cm covering one half of this ‘floater’ specimen. The other side consists of sharp, gemmy quartz crystals to 5 cm with a blocky brown siderite crystal. The apatite crystals have great vivid blue color, blocky 3-dimensional form and are very lustrous. This is a great example of these classic and sought-after blue apatites from Panasqueira and my favorite piece from this batch. Mark Cross photo. Classic!!