Anapaite crystals from Bellver, Catalonia, Spain, Gerd Tremmel collection – small cabinet specimen as unique piece
This small cabinet specimen shows Anapaite crystals from Bellver, Catalonia, Spain, from the Gerd Tremmel collection. Several cavities within the grey brown matrix are lined with fine, densely packed Anapaite crystals that completely coat the interior surfaces. The crystals form sparkling drusy coatings with vitreous luster and appear in grey to slightly brownish tones. The clearly visible crystals give the specimen a lively and textured surface with numerous glittering reflections. The combination of natural cavity formation and crystalline lining makes this specimen particularly attractive.
Geology & Origin
Anapaite is a hydrated calcium phosphate that forms secondarily in phosphate rich deposits. It typically develops in cavities and fractures through the circulation of mineralized solutions that mobilize calcium and phosphate. The Bellver locality in Catalonia is known for various secondary phosphate minerals occurring in sedimentary and hydrothermally influenced environments. The crystals shown here illustrate the formation of fine crystalline phosphates in open cavities within the host rock.