Formed from mineral-rich hot fluids in igneous rocks, beautiful apophyllite is a popular mineral to collect because of its multiple colors, large crystals, abundance and relative low cost- it’s often the young collector’s step up from quartz.

Fluorapophyllite’s chemical formula is KCa₄Si₈O₂₀(F,OH)·8(H₂O), showing higher levels of fluorine compared to hydroxyapophyllite and natroapophyllite, other minerals in the apophyllite group. This one is in the desirable green color with large crystals. Thanks for the gift of this specimen and the quartz below, my brother and family.

Quartz is the second-most-abundant mineral in Earth’s continental crust, after feldspar…[via Wikipedia]. It has a formula of SiO2 and is quite hard-in fact quartz defines the Mohs hardness rating of 7.

Common colored varieties include amethyst, citrine, milky quartz, rose quartz, smoky quartz, and others.

 

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