Description
This apatite crystal is from Alchuri, Shigar Valley, Skardu District, Baltistan, Gilgit Baltistan (Northern Areas), Pakistan. This region contains many pegmatites that are worked for the recovery of over 30 different minerals including apatite (fluorapatite). It is a phosphate that contains the elements Ca, P, O and F. This crystal is translucent with a faint purple color and it contains inclusions of green actinolite crystals. Actinolite is a silicate that contains the elements Ca, Mg, Fe, Si, O and H. This is a large tabular crystal that measures 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 1/2 inches or 38 x 38 x 12 mm.