Quartz is ubiquitous in Panasqueira and appears there in a great diversity of habits. In this floater, recrystallized at its base, what is attractive, in addition to its transparency and perfection, is the presence of a Cassiterite crystal in the center of the piece and the numerous inclusions of Fluorapatite crystals, a very rare inclusion due to the very different formation temperatures of Quartz and Fluorapatite. Completing this combo piece is the presence of Siderite on the back.
I bought it from Alberto Ledo in 2014. Alberto is part of the new generation of Portuguese dealers who go often to the mine and sometimes get great specimens from there.
Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (10/2014)
Specimen size: 11.6 × 4.5 × 2.8 cm = 4.57” × 1.77” × 1.10”
Main crystal size: 9.1 × 2.9 cm = 3.58” × 1.14”
Price:
[SOLD] |