Apatite Archives - Cochise College Geology

Apatite

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Chemical Group: Phosphate

Chemical Formula: Ranges between (CaF)Ca₄(PO₄)₃ and (CaCl)Ca₄(PO₄)₃

Color: Sea green, bluish green, yellow, gray, red, flesh-red, brown, dark blue

Luster: Vitreous to sub-resinous Fluorescence: Some varieties are fluorescent

Transparency: Transparent to opaque Streak: White

Hardness: 5 Specific Gravity: 3.17 to 3.23 Fracture: Conchoidal and uneven

Crystal Forms and Habits: Hexagonal system

Identifying Characteristics: Easily confused with many other minerals.

Uses: Used as a fertilizer. If very transparent, purple, yellow, and bluish-green varieties are gemstones.

USA occurrences:
Maine: Mount Apatite, Poland Township, Androscoggin County, Berry quarry, Poland Township, Androscoggin County, Rubellite mine, Hebron Township, Oxford County, Harvard quarry, Greenwood Township, Oxford County, Thomas quarry, Phippsburg Township, Sagadahoc County,Davis mine, West Bath Township, Sagadahoc County, Tiger Bill mine, Greenwood Township, Bennett quarry, North Buckfield Village, Oxford County
New Hampshire
G.E. Smith Mica Mine, Chandler’s Mills, Sullivan County, Charles Davis mine and Palermo Quarry, North Grofton, Grafton County, Conway Township, Carroll County
New York
Connecticut: Strickland quarry, Portland, Middlesex County
Massachusetts: Pelham, Hampshire County

WORLD-WIDE occurrences:
Mexico: Cerro de Mercado, Durango
Russia
Australia
Germany: Ehrenfriedersdorf and Waldstein

Toxicity: When-swallowed: low When-inhaled: moderate

Additional Information: Teeth and bones are made of the mineral apatite.

Back to Minerals

Photos

Apatite 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Apatite - Blue Crystal in Matrix - Canada

apatite-box of green crystal fragments-Mexico — Apatite - Box Of Green Crystal Fragments - Mexico

apatite-blue-massive-polished surface — Apatite - Blue - Massive - Polished Surface

Apatite - Dark Blue - Massive - Fractured

Apatite - Dark Green Fractured Crystal - Canada

apatite-fractured green crystal — Apatite - Fractured Green Crystal

apatite-light blue crystal-Russia — Apatite - Light Blue Crystal - Russia

apatite-green fractured crystal-Canada — Apatite - Green Fractured Crystal - Canada

Apatite Light Green Massive — Apatite - Light Green - Massive

Apatite Light Green Crystal Massive — Apatite - Light Green Crystal - Massive

Apatite - Small Yellow Green Crystal - Mexico

Apatite Pale Green Crystal Mexico — Apatite - Pale Green Crystal - Mexico

apatite-yellow green crystal in matrix — Apatite - Yellow Green Crystal in Matrix

Apatite Mexico Yellow Green Crystal — Apatite - Yellow Green Crystal - Mexico

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