Fine Blue Apatite Crystals
Grade A blue apatite crystals, beautifully polished exceptional colour.
Although this stone is known as apatite the name doesn't refer to a single mineral. 'Apatite' incorporates a group of phosphate minerals.
This variety which is the most common is known as fluorapatite. The prefix 'fluor' refers to the presence of fluorine.
'Apatite' comes from Greek for 'to deceive' or 'to be deceptive'. This is because crystals can be difficult to identify and are often mistaken for other minerals.
In the mid 1780's a geologist who described and named the mineral zoisite wrote in regards to apatite, "until now it has misled all mineralogists in its identification".
Apatite can be found in several colours. Fine grade blue and green crystals are popular with collectors. Although used as a gemstone it's a difficult stone to work with because it's relatively soft and brittle.
The blue apatite crystals in our photograph are currently the only pieces we have available in this size. Sizes vary slightly from piece to piece.
These blue apatite crystals come from Madagascar.