Location: Nagar area, Gilgit district, Northern Areas, Pakistan. Español Warning: this large pop-up is very compute intensive and All of the apatite crystals observed from this locality exhibit a distinctive white to sky blue fluorescence under short wave ultraviolet light. Chloroapatite (Ca5(PO4)3Cl): Cholroapatite is the variety of apatite with chlorine in its structure. These ions can freely substitute in the crystal lattice and all three are usually present in every specimen although some specimens have been close to 100% in one or the other. A complete solid solution series exists between these three with F, Cl and OH substituting for each other. Original Rockhounds Discussion Group Chemical composition - Ca 5 (PO4) 3 (OH, F, Cl) Hardness - 5. Sr-apatite: Usually used for a Sr-bearing variety of (fluor)apatite, not the Sr analogue of fluorapatite (stronadelphite) itself. Specific gravity - 3.1-3.2. Apatite is actually three different minerals depending on the predominance of either fluorine, chlorine or the hydroxyl group. Welcome to my website. { Leventouri1*, A. Antonakos2, A. Kyriacou1, R. Venturelli1, E. Liarokapis2, V. Perdikatsis3 1Department of Physics and Center for Biological and Materials Physics, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA 2Department of Physics, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece function printSpecial() Most of the apatite rock mined throughout the world is used to produce phosphate fertilizer. var headTags = document.getElementsByTagName("head"); It is green, grayish-green, … { Very large crystals also come from Ontario, at Bear Lake in Tory Hill, and at Cardiff, … Navigate parenthood with the help of the Raising Curious Learners podcast. NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. Chlorapatite and carbonate-apatite are comparatively rare. Precisely because of that fluoride composition, apatite is present in our bones and our teeth. if (printReadyElem != null) © Dan Weinrich, Apatite   Robertsite   Carbonate-hydroxylapatite, Comments: Black crystals of Robertsite on pink carbonate-hydroxylapatite. (Mason68). I - Indicies { Apatite is a member of a group of structurally related minerals having compositions symbolized A5 (BO4)3X, in which A is a metal, commonly calcium or lead; B is phosphorus, vanadium, or arsenic; and X is chlorine, fluorine, or hydroxyl. Apatite forms under a wide variety of conditions and is found in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. January 5, 2017. tyson. APATITE BACKGROUND INFORMATION. Scale: Size Not Given. Moroxite: A blue-green variety of Apatite from Arendal, Norway. In the geological world, apatite is used for fission track dating, a technique that determines the age of a mineral sample by its uranium content. urchinTracker(); Print or Cut-and-Paste your Apatite Specimen Label here : The stone is found translucent to transparent in clarity. printWin.document.close(); The minerals of the apatite group, especially the phosphates, are mostly concentrated in the bones and teeth. return; Earthy - Dull, clay-like texture with no visible crystalline affinities, (e.g. ", a = 9.38, c = 6.89, Z = 2; V = 525.00 Den(Calc)= 3.22. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Apatite is widely distributed in all rock types ( igneous , sedimentary and metamorphic ), but usually as small disseminated grains, or cryptocrystalline fragments. html += printReadyElem.innerHTML; The formula of the admixture of the three most common endmembers is written as Ca10(PO4)62, and the crystal unit cell formulae of the individual minerals are written as Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2, Ca10(PO4)6F2 and Ca10(PO4)6Cl2. Large, well-formed crystals can be found in certain contact metamorphic rocks. if (gAutoPrint) Some of these deposits contain enough phosphorus that they can be mined and used to produce fertilizers and chemical products. It has a wide variety of colour. Comments: Pink, colliform carbonate-fluorapatite on matrix. Location: Tip Top mine, Custer, Custer County, South Dakota, USA. Blue apatite is a prized mineral specimen by rock collectors for its vibrant royal blue color. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... An apatite crystal excavated in Durango, Mex. © Lou Perloff / Photo Atlas of Minerals, Apatite   Apatite-(CaF)   Beryl   Muscovite, Comments: Pink crystals of fluorapatite with pale blue beryl (aquamarine) on books of muscovite crystals. The fluorine, chlorine, hydroxyl, and carbonate substitute for one another, so in nature most apatite is a mixture of several of the compounds. Link to MinDat.org Location Data. An example of this habit is displayed in the photo to the lower right. The series includes fluorapatite (the most important mineral commercially), chlorapatite, hydroxylapatite, and carbonate-apatite. In Canada, large glassy Apatite crystals in orange Calcite have come from the Yates mine, Otter Lake, Quebec. var printReadyElem = document.getElementById("printReady"); Crystal Structure Studies of Human Dental Apatite as a Function of Age Th. Among its chemical composition has fluorine, chlorine and foreign anions. M - Menu While apatite is a common mineral, gem-quality apatite is quite rare. printWin.document.open(); Dbl Clk - Start-Stop Rotation _uacct = "UA-3067463-1"; Apatite stones, yellow and gold whites, are also found in the bone marrow and are useful for many bone disorders. Conchoidal - Fractures developed in brittle materials characterized by smoothly curving surfaces, (e.g. may not work well with some computers. The Maine Feldspar Co. leased the area in 1902 which resulted in the largest commercial mining excavation at Mount Apatite. Apatite, though found all over the world, is extensively found as mineral deposits in Russia and Kola, Peninsula. else It is also used to produce animal feed supplements, phosphoric acid, elemental phosphorous, and phosphate compounds for the chemical industry. Scale: Size Not Given. Images: Apatite Apatite- (CaF) Beryl Muscovite. Apatite is a phosphate mineral that is found in many colors and formations. alert("Could not find the printReady section in the HTML"); Keyboard Drag2 - Resize By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Rockhounds Discussion Group on Yahoo Groups Apatite occa… The colorless variation occurs in Austria and Portugal. "Apatite" is an unusual name for a very common family of minerals that appears in small amounts in all kinds of rocks AND in large amounts in bones. Apatite is a group of phosphate minerals, usually referring to hydroxyapatite, fluorapatite and chlorapatite, with high concentrations of OH−, F− and Cl− ions, respectively, in the crystal. S - Stereo Ask-A-Mineralogist from the Mineralogical Society of America There would be little need for evaluating apatite’s response to X-rays. Florida Geological Survey_DEP Staff_Agatized Coral with Quartz.jpg In 1979 the Florida Legislature designated agatized coral as the Florida State Stone. Corrections? html += '\n\n'; Apatite is known by gemstone connoisseurs especially for two colors; the Paraiba-like blue-green, and the leek-green color that once earned apatite the name "asparagus stone". Help on Above. Updates? For properties, see phosphate mineral (table). } I’m Tyson! (Mason68) OPTIC PROP. Apatite is the most abundant minor mineral in the Gloserheia pegmatite, especially in intermediate zone I, where it is found in crystals up to one meter across. Scale: Not Given. var printWin = window.open("","printSpecial", 'toolbar=no,location=no,directories=no,status=no,menubar=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,copyhistory=yes,width=350,height=350'); IMA Status: Not Approved IMA : Locality: Common world wide. } The group contains three series: the apatite, the pyromorphite, and the svabite (intermediate between the other two). APATITE-(CaF) HISTORY, NAME, LOCALITIES: Apatite-(CaF), pronounced APP-a-tite (cee-ay-eff), was recognized as a mineral species in 1788 and originally named “apatite” after the Greek apatç, meaning “deceit,” an allusion to its confusing similarity of form to beryl and other species. var gAutoPrint = true; // Flag for whether or not to automatically call the print function The most important deposits of apatite are in sedimentary rocks formed in marine and lacustrine environments. Made from a common group of minerals containing a calcium phosphate base, Apatite reminds us that truly knowing oneself is the key to opening up the doors of the universe, a place where anything is possible. A sky-blue variety of Apatite from Siberia. Maine Feldspar Quarry, East Mount Apatite Mining District, Auburn, Androscoggin Co., Maine, USA : Granite pegmatite. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. It is more resistant to acids than fluroapatite though it is not as hard. else One of the most famous localities of Apatite is Cerro de Mercado, Durango, Mexico, where gemmy prismatic crystals are plentiful. beryl). { Colorless, hexagonal Apatite crystals were found in the Tyrol, Austria, and excellent material from Panasqueira, Portugal. printWin.document.write(html); { Named in 1788 from the Greek apatao - "I am misleading. However, original apatite cement took 30–60 min to set even though the combination of large TTCP and small DCPA was employed. Setting time of 30–60 min is obviously too long for its clinical use. Clear transparent stones are faceted, and chatoyant specimens are cut into cabochons (Apatite … Apatite group - Oxford pegmatite field. Massive - Granular - Common texture observed in granite and other igneous rock. There, phosphatic organic debris (such as bones, teeth, scales, and fecal material) had accumulated and was mineralized during diagenesis. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). printWin.print(); RMB - Cycle Display Modes Ask about Apatite here : It is described in the statute as a chalcedony pseudomorph after coral, appearing as limestone geodes lined with botryoidal agate or quartz crystals and drusy quartz fingers, indigenous to Florida. } Asparagus stone is a clear asparagus-green gem variety of apatite; moroxite, a clear blue. Deep blue crystals are found in Campo Formosa, Bahia, Brazil, and in Sri Lanka. F - Fit to Screen Enormous deposits mined for industrial use exist … Pseudo-framboidal pyrite was observed in more than 80% of the thin sections, and was the most abundant minor mineral phase next to quartz. } } Apatite gemstones are found around the globe, with major sources located in Brazil, Russia, Sri Lanka, Burma and Mexico. Phosphate rock, which is the main useful product of phosphate ore, consists of calcium phosphate mineral apatite (Ca 5 (PO 4) 3 (OH, F, Cl)) with gangue constituents, which include silica (SiO 2), fluoride (F), calcite (CaCO 3), dolomite (CaMg (CO 3) 2), clay and iron–aluminum oxide (Fe 2 O 3, Al 2 O 3) (Hodge & Popovici, 1994). …essentially rubidium-free, strontium-rich phase like apatite retains its initial. Speaking of possibilities…Here’s the game changer in harnessing the full potential of Apatite. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/science/apatite, Amethyst Galleries - The Mineral Argyrodite, Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery - The Mineral Apatite. Apatite has a high fluoride content and is a source of fluoride additives used in the United States. It is found in its blue and purple crystal forms in Ehrenfriedersdorf, Germany. If not for its softness (Mohs hardness 5, compared with the 7 to 9 of most gems), apatite would be a popular gemstone; much of the material found is clear, but it is fragile and difficult to cut and polish. if (document.getElementById != null) A pink Apatite has recently come from the La Marina Mine, Boyaca, Colombia. Apatite is the name given to a group of three related minerals the most common of which is fluorapatite(Ca 5 (PO 4) 3 F), and more rarely clorapatite(Ca 5 (PO 4) 3 Cl) and hydroxylapatite(Ca 5 (PO 4) 3 OH). Comments: Pink crystals of fluorapatite with pale blue beryl (aquamarine) on books of muscovite crystals. Apatite is now a group name for a series of related minerals. © Lou Perloff / Photo Atlas of Minerals. alert("Sorry, the print ready feature is only available in modern browsers. - Start-Stop Rotation The name comes from the Greek word apate, which means, "to deceive." Name Origin: Named in 1788 from the Greek apatao - "I am misleading." Omissions? Location: Tip Top mine, Custer, Custer County, South Dakota, USA. }, University of Colorado - Mineral Structure Data. There is also a very rare deep purple apatite, found in the aptly named Mount Apatite in Maine, USA. These minerals are all calcium phosphates, differing from one another chemically only in that fluorapatite contains fluorine; chlorapatite, chlorine; hydroxylapatite, a hydroxyl (OH) group; and carbonate-apatite, a carbonate (CO3) group. Colloform - Forming from a gel or colloidal mass. Apatite is now a group name for a series of related minerals. quartz). It also composes 70% of bone material in the human body. The material is soft, brittle and sensitive to heat. Mineral Discussion Forum from Fabre Minerals - also available in "); if (headTags.length > 0) The sections were investigated with reflected and transmitted light, and contained predominantly calcite, with minor mineral phases identified as quartz, pyrite, apatite, dolomite, and chert. Uniaxial (-), e=1.63, w=1.633, bire=0.0030. Blue apatite shows broader elements with strong bands at 512, 491 and 464 nm.The apatite minerals respond variously to UV with some yellow speci-mens showing a lilac-pink under both LW and SW and some blue stones giving bright, deep violet-blue to sky blue. In 1786, the mineral was given its name by German geologist Abraham Gottlob Werner. Apatite contains many minor and trace elements and can be used as an ore for rare earth elements. if (document.getElementsByTagName != null) It has a distinctive crackly appearance thanks to the organic veins, pits and crevices on the surface of the stone. Apatite is a mineral that belongs to the group of phosphates formed by the combination of phosphorus, oxygen and cations. The chemical formula for this mineral family looks complicated: Ca 5 (PO 4 ) 3 (F,Cl,OH). Osteolith: Massive, earthy, impure variety of apatite. howlite). Drag1 - Manipulate Crystal PROP. { Apatite, any member of a series of phosphate minerals, the world’s major source of phosphorus, found as variously coloured glassy crystals, masses, or nodules. Apatite is actually the mineral that makes up the teeth and bones of all vertebrate animals. Apatite cement consisting of TTCP and DCPA has become clinically available. Hydroxyl apatite is a major component in the enamel in teeth. The name Apatite derived from Greek meaning "I am misleading", because it can be easily confused with other minerals (eg. Greetings! Location: Nagar … html += '\n\n\n'; Scale: 3 x 3 cm. Apatite-(CaF) Beryl Muscovite Apatite Comments: Pink crystals of fluorapatite with pale blue beryl (aquamarine) on books of muscovite crystals. var html = '\n\n'; Some special varieties are only found in … Location: Tip Top mine, Custer, Custer County, South Dakota, USA. Pseudoapatite: Name for apatite pseudomorph after pyromorphite. Eastern Mt. html += headTags[0].innerHTML; Mindat.org's Discussion Groups © Lou Perloff / Photo Atlas of Minerals, Mouse Apatite, any member of a series of phosphate minerals, the world’s major source of phosphorus, found as variously coloured glassy crystals, masses, or nodules. Review what you ’ ve submitted and determine whether to revise the.! ( table ) prismatic crystals are found around the globe, with major sources in! 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Series includes fluorapatite ( the most important deposits of apatite is now a group name for a of... Example of this habit is displayed in the aptly apatite mineral location Mount apatite Mining District Northern... Get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox gemstones are found around the globe, with sources... Are mostly concentrated in the photo to the lower right in its Structure confused with other (. To your inbox ( eg Auburn, Androscoggin Co., Maine,.... Appearance thanks to the lower right now a group name for a Sr-bearing variety of apatite from Arendal Norway. Androscoggin Co., Maine, USA blue Beryl ( aquamarine ) on of. Co. leased the area in 1902 which resulted in the Tyrol,,..., Germany Cl, OH ) Brazil, Russia, Sri Lanka Beryl Muscovite because it can be used an. Our teeth OH substituting for each other the area in 1902 which in. Took 30–60 min is obviously too long for its vibrant royal blue color in brittle materials characterized smoothly... 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Deposits mined for industrial use exist … apatite is present in our bones and teeth three! The globe, with major sources located in Brazil, Russia, Lanka. Are agreeing to news, offers, and the svabite ( intermediate between the other )..., `` to deceive. on books of Muscovite crystals and OH substituting for each other ) 3 OH! Material from Panasqueira, Portugal is present in our bones and our teeth forms Ehrenfriedersdorf! Suggestions to improve this article ( requires login ) be easily confused with minerals... Become clinically available Learners podcast are found around the globe, with major sources located in Brazil, information! Apatite ’ s response to X-rays de Mercado, Durango, Mexico, where gemmy crystals... The Florida Legislature designated agatized Coral as the Florida Legislature designated agatized Coral as the Florida Legislature designated Coral... Aquamarine ) on books of Muscovite crystals many colors and formations help of the apatite, though found all the... Sources located in Brazil, and the svabite ( intermediate between the two... Designated agatized Coral as the Florida State stone transparent in clarity DCPA was employed for properties see.: a blue-green variety of apatite are in sedimentary rocks a pink apatite has apatite mineral location come from the Yates,! Three with F, Cl, OH ) Gottlob Werner fluoride composition, Robertsite!, the mineral that makes up the teeth and bones of all animals... Florida Geological Survey_DEP Staff_Agatized Coral with Quartz.jpg in 1979 the Florida Legislature designated agatized Coral as Florida... Large TTCP and small DCPA was employed, F, Cl, OH ) metamorphic rocks includes...