Alkali-Beryl, Apatite, on Feldspar - Afghanistan

Contributed by: Mark Cole
Date: Mar 13th, 2026
Locality: Deo Darrah, Kuran Wa Munjan District, Badakhshan, Afghanistan (See on Mindat)
Size: 3 x 2.5 x 4 inches
Weight: 12.9 oz

Description:
The original post by Mark Cole on Nature's Rainbows identified the blue mineral as vorobyevite, a cesium (Cs) beryl from Deo Darrah, Badakhshan, Afghanistan. Analytical work described in mindat.org of similar blue beryl from Deo Darrah found "no noticeable Cs level (but with higher levels of Na and Ca) so it is essentially alkali-rich beryl.". The blue beryl from Deo Darrah is now called alkali-beryl in mindat.

The light blue alkali-beryl is very fluorescent under SW UV and mildly reacts to MW and LW. It is also very phosphorescent with a pleasing greenish color (makes one think of chlorophane). The specimen also contains a pink crystal of fluorapatite that fluoresces bright yellow under SW and MW light. It has a dimmer pinkish yellow under LW.