Fluorapatite

specimen number:
8311402

location:
Cerro de Mercado, Durango, Mexico

description:
A gemmy terminated glassy yellow green crystal of fluorapatite 2.5 cm in length set nicely up on matrix with crystallized quartz. Classic material for this locality, this is in great condition.

The Cerro de Mercado Mine, located on the outskirts of Durango City in Mexico, is a world-class iron ore deposit situated within a prominent hill of the same name. Geologically, it is a classic example of an iron oxide-apatite (IOA) or Kiruna-type deposit, formed during the Tertiary period through magmatic-hydrothermal processes associated with the Chupaderos caldera complex. The mine is famous among collectors for producing exceptional yellow-green fluorapatite crystals, which occur as lustrous, transparent, and well-formed hexagonal prisms within the martite-rich iron ore. Historically, the massive iron outcrop was noted by Spanish explorers as early as 1552, though large-scale industrial extraction did not begin until the late 19th century with the founding of the Ferreria de Aguanaval. The mine saw significant expansion throughout the 1900s under various operators, including Altos Hornos de Mexico (AHMSA), and it remains an active open-pit operation today. While its primary output is high-grade magnetite and hematite for the steel industry, the Cerro de Mercado continues to be the premier global source for the iconic "Durango apatite" specimens that are staples in mineral collections worldwide.

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