Fluorapatite on Orthoclase

A spectacular terminated yellow-cream Orthoclase crystal with colour-zoned Fluorapatite crystals from Chywoon quarry at Mabe near to Falmouth in Cornwall. Chywoon works a pegmatite-rich zone of the Carnmenellis granite pluton. The Orthoclase termination and two of the prism faces are coated in a very thin veneer of orange-buff Orthoclase with a rough texture over which are scattered hundreds of micro crystals of pale blueish green Fluorapatite, plus several terminated Quartz crystals to 8 mm long. Close to the Orthoclase termination are three large, lustrous sea green Fluorapatite crystals to 9 x 9 mm, displaying zoning and mirror bright pinacoid faces. Four patches of lustrous cream Orthoclase show where Fluorapatite crystals have become detached while in situ in the pegmatite pockets. This is a stunning Chywoon specimen, as much for its wonderful Orthoclase crystal as for the lustrous Fluorapatites.