THE
MINERAL ANAPAITE
- Chemistry: Ca2Fe(PO4)2 - 4H2O, Hydrated Calcium Iron Phosphate
- Class: Phosphates
- Uses: only as a mineral specimen.
Specimens
Anapaite is rare and beautiful phosphate mineral. Or is it? Some mineral purists would dispute anapaite's inclusion into the mineral kingdom. The reason is that anapaite has a somewhat organic origin. In true pure mineralogical tradition, a mineral must have inorganic origins (ie. it is not made by a plant or animal). Anapaite is found in some fossil shell remains. But does this mean that the shell or bivalve formed the anapaite or did it just provide the needed calcium or change the environment of crystallization (such as the pH) needed for anapaite to form?
If anapaite is excluded, it will be the mineral kingdom's loss! For anapaite is a truly beautiful mineral. Its lime green color is attractive and is a jewel inside the otherwise uncrystallized remains of an ancient fossil shell. The scene almost reminds you of a virtual green pearl.
The triclinic crystals of anapaite are indistinct and this is very diagnostic, believe it or not! Perhaps it is the way or the environment in which anapaite forms, but the crystals look more like glass shards than like true crystals. Despite the lack of distinct forms, anapaite crystals are very different and would be a nice addition to anyone's collection.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
- Color is commonly green or white.
- Luster is vitreous.
- Transparency crystals are transparent to translucent.
- Crystal System is triclinic, bar 1
- Crystal Habits include characteristically indistinct prismatic crystals and aggregates.
- Hardness is 3.5
- Specific Gravity is approximately 2.8 (average for translucent minerals)
- Streak is white.
- Associated Minerals are limonite and vivianite. Anapaite often forms in fossil clam shells, coal beds (rarely) or phosphatic geodes.
- Notable Occurrences include Anapa (hence the name), Taman Peninsula, Russia; Kerch Peninsula, Crimea, Ukraine; Bellaver de Cerdena, Spain; Kings County, California, USA and Germany.
- Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, localities, associations with fossils and phosphatic geodes and color.
 Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery MINERALS |
ANAPAITE specimen anp-1$ 80.00
Dims: 1.4" x 1.1" x 0.6" (3.6 x 2.8 x 1.5 cm)
Wt: 15.7 g
Kertch, Krym Peninsula, Crimea, Ukraine
A rather odd and very pretty specimen, this piece consists of about 4 intersecting clusters of compact, radiating Anapaite needles on a rusty-brown matrix. These clusters do not exceed 0.3" (8 mm) and have a generally rounded form, though one is quite warped. They show heavy striations or patterning due to the clustering of the sharp crystals, which appear to have a bladed habit. The clusters have a pale lime-green coloration and show a vitreous luster, and are transparent and show a dim clarity. I think their contrast against the dull red-brown color of their host rock is magnificent! There are a few shards of fossil shells visible in the host rock.
anp-1 ($ 80.00)Kertch, Krym Peninsula, Crimea, Ukraine
ANAPAITE specimen anp-2
$ 65.00
$ 65.00
Dims: 1.1" x 1.0" x 0.7" (2.8 x 2.5 x 1.8 cm)
Wt: 12.2 g
Kertch, Krym Peninsula, Crimea, Ukraine
This attractive little thumbnail consists of a small amount of a rust-stained host rock on which rest at least 4 distinct Anapaite clusters. These clusters are very small, not exceeding 0.4" (1.0 cm) in any dimension, but show only minor damage. They appear to be made up of many tiny, intergrown blades, and have a beautiful green color that reminds me of that of chrysoprase. The clusters show a sparkle that suggests a vitreous luster and are translucent but appear to be nearly transparent. They rest in a very smoothly-surfaced hollow that was once part of a clam shell's interior, and are accompanied by 3 or 4 clusters of a mineral with a dull, pale orange color. It occurs in clusters with a shape similar to that of the Anapaite's, but its crystals appear to be sharper and more needle-like. I have no idea what this mineral is, and can only guess that it may be calcite or ankerite.
anp-2 ($ 65.00)
Kertch, Krym Peninsula, Crimea, Ukraine
ANAPAITE specimen anp-3
$ 55.00
$ 55.00
Dims: 0.9" x 0.9" x 0.8" (2.3 x 2.3 x 2.0 cm)
Wt: 9.2 g
Kertch, Krym Peninsula, Crimea, Ukraine
Five small clusters of warped Anapaite crystals are growing off of a few shards of a broken fossilized clam shell on this specimen. The clusters do not exceed 0.3" (8 mm) in any dimension and are in excellent condition, showing no damage. They have a pale blue-green coloration and show a bright pearly-to-vitreous luster. The crystals that make up these clusters are so heavily intergrown that their only integral parts are their terminations, and one needs at least 20 or 30-power magnification to be able to study them properly. The clusters show a surprising amount of transparence, though the striations that are caused by the outer crystals make this a bit difficult to determine. The host rock is dull and brown, and may contain a substantial amount of iron or tin. Though the fossil shells are broken, one can see visible detail in the striations on their outer surfaces. The specimen is hot-glued onto a small, square acrylic base.
anp-3 ($ 55.00)
Kertch, Krym Peninsula, Crimea, Ukraine
ANAPAITE specimen anp-4$ 135.00
Dims: 3.2" x 2.0" x 1.3" (8.1 x 5.1 x 3.3 cm)
Wt: 3.74 oz. (107.4 g)
Kertch, Krym Peninsula, Crimea, Ukraine
Our most impressive Anapaite specimen, this piece is also our most unusual. It consists of a druse of triclinic blades, some of which are impressively well-defined. They have a rather olive-green color and a bright vitreous luster, and appear to be at least dimly transparent. They rest on a thin, dull black coating of some powdery substance which partially coats the dull brown base rock. This rock looks very much like bauxite. I consider this specimen to be unusual for two reasons. First, there is a lot of Anapaite present on the piece. Second, I see no evidence of any fossil clam shells, which until now have been present on every Anapaite specimen that we have had for sale.
anp-4 ($135.00)Kertch, Krym Peninsula, Crimea, Ukraine
ANAPAITE specimen anp-5
$ 25.00
$ 25.00
Dims: 1.0 x 1.0 x 0.7" (2.5 x 2.5 x 1.8 cm)
Wt: 13.6 g
Kertch, Krym Peninsula, Crimea, Ukraine
This small thumbnail specimen consists of a single spray of radiating Anapaite crystals that rests on what appears to be a goethite or limonite base rock. The spray is tiny, not exceeding 0.3" (8 mm) along any axis, and most of the crystals therein do not exceed 0.1" (3 mm). They are in good condition, however, as only one or two appear to be damaged or broken. Even those that are not heavily intergrown have a warped and indefinite crystal form, which is a characteristic of this mineral. All have a pale yellow-green coloration and a dull waxy luster, and are translucent even at their small size. Examination of the base of the cluster (where it meets the host rock) under 10x or greater magnification will show the presence of several tiny, white cubes that are likely made up of calcite or ankerite, given their surroundings and association.
anp-5 ($ 25.00)
Kertch, Krym Peninsula, Crimea, Ukraine
ANAPAITE specimen anp-6
$ 38.00
$ 38.00
Dims: 1.8 x 1.2 x 0.9" (4.6 x 3.0 x 2.3 cm)
Wt: 25.3 g
Kertch, Krym Peninsula, Crimea, Ukraine
A single cluster of heavily intergrown Anapaite crystals rests on the rusty host rock of this thumbnail specimen. The cluster has dimensions of 0.4 x 0.2 x 0.2" (1.0 x 0.5 x 0.5 cm), and none of its crystals exceeds 0.2" (5 cm) in length. They are nearly impossible to study as individuals not only due to their heavy intergrowth, but also due to the indistinct nature of the triclinic prisms. They have a pale green coloration that is slightly dulled by the presence of rust-colored dust on the cluster. This dust also dims the luster of the Anapaite, but one can still see that it is bright and nearly vitreous. It is dimly transparent to translucent, and rests on the inside of part of a fossil clam shell that is embedded in the host rock, which is almost certainly rich in iron.
anp-6 ($ 38.00)
Kertch, Krym Peninsula, Crimea, Ukraine
ANAPAITE specimen anp-7
$ 30.00
$ 30.00
Dims: 2.3 x 1.7 x 1.4" (5.8 x 4.4 x 3.6 cm)
Wt: 2.5 oz. (72 g)
Bellaver de Cerdena, Gerona, Spain
This hand specimen consists of part of a rough geode whose inner surface is lined with hundreds of tiny Anapaite crystals. These crystals do not exceed 1 mm in length or diameter and are generally in excellent condition due to their protective surroundings. Though difficult to study due to their small size, they appear to have excellent triclinic form. Their color appears to be a dull yellow with a hint of green and their luster is vitreous. All appear to be transparent and quite clear. The surrounding rock is a soft mudstone.
anp-7 ($ 30.00)
Bellaver de Cerdena, Gerona, Spain
ANAPAITE specimen anp-8
$ 20.00
$ 20.00
Dims: 1.8 x 1.7 x 1.1" (4.6 x 4.4. x 2.9 cm)
Wt: 1.8 oz. (50 g)
Bellaver de Cerdena, Gerona, Spain
Part of a small geode makes up this hand specimen. The inner surface of the geode is lined with hundreds of Anapaite blades that do not exceed 1 mm in length or diameter, but are in excellent condition due to their protective surroundings. Though a bit small for effective study with a loupe, they appear to have excellent triclinic form. Their color is a dull yellow with a hint of green, their luster is vitreous, and all seem to be transparent and quite clear. The outer surface of the geode is made up of a soft mudstone.
anp-8 ($ 20.00)
Bellaver de Cerdena, Gerona, Spain
ANAPAITE specimen anp-9
$ 60.00
$ 60.00
Dims: 1.5 x 1.4 x 0.9" (3.9 x 3.5 x 2.3 cm)
Wt: 0.8 oz. (22 g)
Kertch, Crimean Peninsula, Ukraine
Three aggregated Anapaite crystals rest in the hollow of a fossil shell in the brown matrix of this hand specimen. Though one crystal is broken and incomplete, the others are intact and in excellent condition. The largest of these has dimensions of 0.4 x 0.2 x 0.2" (9 x 6 x 5 mm). All show the indistinct triclinic form and aggregated crystal habit that are hallmarks of this particular specie, and all have the classic pale green color and vitreous luster. The crystals are actually transparent, but the aggregation surfaces and cloudy nature of the material reduces clarity. The rusty-brown matrix rock holds a few more empty fossil shells.
anp-9 ($ 60.00)
Kertch, Crimean Peninsula, Ukraine
ANAPAITE specimen anp-10
$ 25.00
$ 25.00
Dims: 0.8 x 0.8 x 0.4" (2.1 x 2.0 x 1.0 cm)
Wt: 0.5 oz. (15 g)
Kerch, Crimea Peninsula, Ukraine
This lovely thumbnail piece consists of a cluster of tiny Anapaite crystals that has grown inside a fossil clam shell, which is visible and still at least 50% complete. Each crystal is in excellent condition and does not exceed 0.1" (3 mm) in length. All have the classic disseminated triclinic form that gives them a rounded, "wheat sheaf" appearance. All have a dull, apple-green coloration and a pearly to vitreous luster, and are transparent and dimly clear. The piece is affixed inside a plastic thumbnail box.
anp-10 ($ 25.00)
Kerch, Crimea Peninsula, Ukraine
ANAPAITE specimen anp-11
$ 30.00
$ 30.00
Dims: 1.22x1.00x0.91" (3.09x2.53x2.31cm)
Wt: 0.55oz (15.7g)
Kerch, Crimea Peninsula, Ukraine
This anapaite specimen has a rather dull appearance due to a thin overgrowth of brown and white minerals, giving it a somewhat dirty appearance. The color is the usual green, and there remain a few bits of the original clamshell in which it formed. A loupe reveals the transparency of some of the crystals, and further that many of the crystals are in excellent condition, showing fine triclinic form. There are many clusters of anapaite leaves, and other crystals that are distinct stubby blades.
anp-11 ($ 30.00)
Kerch, Crimea Peninsula, Ukraine