Quartz, Fluorapatite: Panasqueira Mine, Covilhã, Portugal

Description

Species: Quartz, Fluorapatite

Locality: Panasqueira Mine, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Portugal

Dimensions: 19.5 x 9.5 x 7.5 cm.

Portugal’s Panasqueira mines are known for their world-class crystals of colorful fluorapatite, often associated with ferberite, quartz, fluorite, siderite, and arsenopyrite. This aesthetic specimen consists large, lustrous, undamaged, clear quartz crystals to nearly 18 cm(!) associated with good vivid blue gemmy crystals of fluorapatite to ~1.2 cm on one of the quartz crystals. A great association piece showing two of the ‘classic’ Panasqueira minerals together, in a harmonious combination and without damage. Mark Cross photo.