Apatite (Hydroxylapatite), Sapo Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil

The Sapo Mine in Brazil produced some of the nicest hydroxylapatites ever found in the early 2000s (notably 2004-2005). Hydroxylapatite, reclassified as apatite-(CaOH), is rarer than the more common fluorapatite. This nice plate displays green hydroxylapatites, with hexagonal bipyramidal habit, on microcline. A quick internet search will show this as a classic example of the famous finds at Sapo, with the Mindat.org example looking like it might actually fit into this piece! The crystals, additionally, have nice yellow fluorescence under long wave UV light. This is another specimen that has traveled with me to several shows and I am shocked I still have it, especially at this price! Ex Steve Potvin collection. From: Sapo Mine, Conselheiro Pena, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Dimensions: 5.5 cm x 8 cm