Apatite is a group of phosphate minerals, most often hydroxyapatite, fluorapatite and chlorapatite, each named for the hydroxide, fluoride or chloride ion that dominates its crystal. It is the most common phosphate mineral in igneous and metamorphic rocks, usually as small grains that show up only in thin section, while coarse crystals are mostly found in pegmatites, skarns and marble. Phosphorite, a sedimentary rock, can hold as much as 80 percent apatite. Apatite defines hardness 5 on the Mohs scale, and its name comes from a Greek word meaning to deceive, because it is so often mistaken for other minerals. Its main use is as a source of phosphate for fertilizer, and as hydroxyapatite it forms a major part of the teeth and bones of vertebrate animals.
Facts
Formation ClassPhosphate mineral, a common accessory mineral across igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks and the principal structural mineral of vertebrate bone and tooth enamel. 1 Chemical FormulaCa10(PO4)6(OH,F,Cl)2 (admixture of the three most common endmembers) 1 Hardness (Mohs) Classification
Strunz ClassPhosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates 1 Crystal System UseSoil Amendment or Fertilizer 1 Connections
Associated With
Apatite is the defining mineral for 5 on the Mohs scale.
Source Apatite (Wikipedia)
Apatite named among the characteristic minerals of complex (rare-element) pegmatites.
Source Pegmatite (Wikipedia)
Caused By
Source Apatite (Wikipedia)
Source Pegmatite (Wikipedia)
Source Apatite (Wikipedia)
Source Apatite (Wikipedia)
Classified As
Crystallizes In System
In Discipline
Apatite is a standard mineral used in fission-track and (U-Th)/He geochronology dating methods, beyond the automatic in-discipline->Mineralogy edge.
Source Apatite (Wikipedia)
Source Apatite (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Apatite (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationGeology section
Apatite is the defining mineral for 5 on the Mohs scale.
Lead section
Apatite is a group of phosphate minerals, usually hydroxyapatite, fluorapatite and chlorapatite, with high concentrations of OH-, F- and Cl- ion, respectively, in the crystal.
Infobox: system
Hexagonal
Apatite (Wikipedia), body text
The primary use of apatite is as a source of phosphate in the manufacture of fertilizer
In Discipline: Geochronology, Applications section
Fission tracks in apatite are commonly used to determine the thermal histories of orogenic belts and of sediments in sedimentary basins.
Caused By: Sedimentation, Geology
Phosphorite is a phosphate-rich sedimentary rock containing as much as 80% apatite, which is present as cryptocrystalline masses referred to as collophane.
Caused By: Magmatism, Geology
Apatite is very common as an accessory mineral in igneous and metamorphic rocks, where it is the most common phosphate mineral.
Caused By: Biomineralization, Geology
Apatite is one of a few minerals produced and used by biological micro-environmental systems.
View the Source 2. minerals.net: Apatite
minerals.netColor field
Colorless, white, yellow, brown, gray, red, pink, purple, blue, green. Some specimens are multicolored.
Luster field
Vitreous
Description
Apatite is the most common phosphate mineral
View the Source Wikidata: Apatite
Wikidata Q178397
Pegmatite (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Pegmatite, Complex pegmatite mineralogy section
These complex pegmatites contain unusual minerals of these elements, such as beryl, spodumene, lepidolite, amblygonite, topaz, apatite, fluorite, tourmaline.
Caused By: Fractional Crystallization, Petrology
A typical sequence of deposition begins with microcline and quartz, with minor schorl and garnet. This is followed by deposition of albite, lepidolite, gem tourmaline, beryl, spodumene, amblygonite, topaz, apatite, and fluorite, which may partially replace some of the minerals in the earlier zone.
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