Brazil082 - Fluorapatite, Muscovite and Albite - Urucum Mine, Galiléia, Doce Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Excellent, transparent 2.3 cm crystal of pink fluorapatite on an albite and muscovite matrix. Pink apatites from the Urucum mine are quite rare and often mistaken for morganite. The crystal has a small 1 mm ding as shown in the photos; otherwise it is superb. The muscovite is also very well crystallized. Fluoresces chalky white under both SW and LW UV. 5.8 x 4.6 x 4.4 cm.

For more information on this locality, please see the Mindat locality page. Also, fluorapatite from the Urucum mine is discussed on page 340 of Minerals & Precious Stones of Brazil, by Carlos Cornejo and Andrea Bartorelli. Photos by Joe Budd.