A polished blue apatite sphere from the Anosy region of Madagascar, its colour running from ocean blue toward green as the light shifts across the curve. Apatite forms in igneous and metamorphic rock, and the Anosy region is one of the best-known sources for the blue-green material. At 5 on the Mohs scale it is softer than quartz, so it rewards careful handling.
Mineral: Blue apatite (fluorapatite, Ca₅(PO₄)₃(F,Cl,OH))
Crystal system: Hexagonal
Origin: Anosy region, Madagascar
Hardness: 5 on the Mohs scale; softer than quartz, handle with care
Treatment: None known. Natural blue-green colouring; not heat-enhanced as far as we can determine
Diameter: 7.5 cm
Weight: 690 g
Note: Acrylic stand included (not the stand shown in the photo)
You'll receive the exact piece photographed.