Apatite Crystals on Muscovite, Topaz, with dozens unknown small blue crystals - Pakistan

Contributed by: Mark Cole
Date: Apr 12th, 2026
Locality: Shigar Valley, Shigar District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan (See on Mindat)
Size: 3 x 2.5 x 6 inches
Weight: 22.2 oz

Description:
I picked this piece up in Tucson. It has dozens of bright yellow fluorescing apatite crystals, but what attracted me was the large topaz crystal (assumed) and the dozens of small blue fluorescing crystals. I can’t figure out what they are but sure makes a pretty display.

Originally posted by Mark Cole on Nature's Rainbows in 2017.

Fluorescence under longwave and shortwave UV light. Closeup

Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.

Fluorescence under midwave UV light.

Fluorescence under longwave UV light.

Normal light.

Normal light. Closeup

Summary of luminescence responses:

Fluorapatite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

• Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Yellow
• Fluorescence under Midwave (305nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Yellow
• Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Yellow

• Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Blue