Apophyllite Crystal Cluster Value Guide

Apophyllite crystal clusters from India are highly prized for their distinct blocky, translucent structures often found on a basalt matrix. Named by René Just Haüy in 1806, these specimens are collectible for their unique exfoliation properties and their association with peach-colored stilbite.

What Is Apophyllite Crystal Cluster Worth?

The typical price range for Apophyllite Crystal Cluster is $75 - $82 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The size and clarity of the individual apophyllite crystals significantly impact the $75-$82 price range.
• The presence of aesthetic mineral associations, such as well-formed stilbite crystals on the basalt base, increases desirability.
• Overall specimen damage, such as bruised crystal tips or cracked faces, will lower the market value.
• The transparency of the crystals, ranging from opaque white to gem-quality clear, is a primary driver of collector interest.

How to Identify Apophyllite Crystal Cluster?

• Look for characteristic blocky or pearly translucent white to clear crystals typical of Deccan Plateau specimens.
• Check for the presence of a dark basalt matrix or secondary minerals like stilbite which are common in authentic Indian clusters.
• Observe the crystal structure for a pearly luster on the basal cleavage planes, a hallmark of the mineral's physical composition.
• Verify the 'leaf-like' flaking reaction if the specimen is subjected to heat, which is the origin of the name Apophyllite.

History of Apophyllite Crystal Cluster

Apophyllite was first officially named in 1806 by René Just Haüy. Its name is derived from the Greek words 'apo', meaning away from, and 'phyllon', meaning leaf, referring to its tendency to flake or exfoliate when heated. The most sought-after specimens typically come from the basaltic trap rocks of the Deccan Plateau in India.