THIS paper describes the mineralogy, chemistry, X-ray, and trace element study of a chlorapatite (asparagus stone) collected from the rocks exposed at the emerald mine, near the village Rajagarh, Ajmer. The mica schists and gneisses of Aravalli age (Archaean), constitute the country rocks in the area. The schists are associated with altered peridotites and intrusive granite and pegmatite. The asparagus stone occurs at the contact of schists and pegmatite. A few crystals of chlorapatite, which were first mistaken for emerald, were collected from the contact zone during the course of a geological excursion.The crystals measured I 1" a,,• ~, yellowish-green, semi-transparent with uneven to sub-conchoidal fracture and vitreous lustre; the specific gravity 3"17.A crystal was broken, crushed to --8o mesh, and separated to remove any associated gangue mineral, using Clerici's solution of varying dilutions. The mineral separated was almost pure (99 %) excepting the minute inclusions of sericite, which could not be separated. In order to estimate the amount of sericite, grain mounts of the separated mineral were studied using refractive index liquid of 1.645, with the help of a point counter. The sericite inclusions were estimated at o'93 %.
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