Fluorapatite with Quartz and Hydroxylherderite

In his April 1977 article in the Mineralogical Record, Wendell Wilson notes in his conclusions that “Pulsifer purple apatite is extremely rare on the market today; collectors possessing specimens tend to retain them above all else.” The passage of more than 40 years has not rendered them any less rare or desirable, so this thumbnail specimen with half-a-dozen gemmy bright purple crystals embedded with milky quartz is a treasure. The large crystal has a 1cm prism, with the pinacoid termination 1 x 1.4cm. Of the remaining crystals, at least one, 4mm long to the bottom right, is double-terminated. The hydroxylherderite is best-expressed as a 2mm waxy yellow/brown crystal immediately below the two main fluorapatite crystals.