Mineralogy Database

Apatite Mineral Data

Search Webmineral :
  

General Apatite Information

Help on Chemical  Formula: Chemical Formula: Ca5(PO4)3(OH,F,Cl)
Help on Composition: Composition: Molecular Weight = 509.12 gm
   Calcium     39.36 %  Ca   55.07 % CaO
   Phosphorus  18.25 %  P    41.82 % P2O5
   Hydrogen     0.07 %  H     0.59 % H2O
   Chlorine     2.32 %  Cl    2.32 % Cl
                 -   %   Cl   -0.52 % -O=Cl2   
   Oxygen      38.76 %  O
   Fluorine     1.24 %  F     1.24 % F
                 -   %   F    -0.52 % -O=F2    
              ______        ______ 
              100.00 %      100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE
Help on Empirical Formula: Empirical Formula: Ca5(PO4)3(OH)0.33F0.33Cl0.33
Help on Environment: Environment: Apatite is now a group name for a series of related minerals.
Help on IMA Status: IMA Status: Not Approved IMA
Help on Locality: Locality: Common world wide. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.
Help on Name Origin: Name Origin: Named in 1788 from the Greek apatao - "I am misleading."
Help on Name Pronunciation: Name Pronunciation: Apatite Say APATITE
Help on Synonym: Synonym: Davisonite - mixture with crandallite
  Dennisonite - mixture with crandallite
 

Apatite Image

Click Here for Larger   Image in a New Browser Window Images:
Click Here for Larger   Image

  Carbonate-fluorapatite   Apatite

Comments: Pink, colliform carbonate-fluorapatite on matrix.
Location: Tip Top mine, Custer, Custer County, South Dakota, USA. Scale: Size Not Given.
© Lou Perloff / Photo Atlas of Minerals

Click Here for Larger   Image in a New Browser Window Images:
Click Here for Larger   Image

  Apatite-(CaF)   Beryl   Muscovite   Apatite

Comments: Pink crystals of fluorapatite with pale blue beryl (aquamarine) on books of muscovite crystals.
Location: Nagar area, Gilgit district, Northern Areas, Pakistan. Scale: 3 x 3 cm.
© Dan Weinrich

Click Here for Larger   Image in a New Browser Window Images:
Click Here for Larger   Image

  Robertsite   Carbonate-hydroxylapatite   Apatite

Comments: Black crystals of Robertsite on pink carbonate-hydroxylapatite.
Location: Tip Top mine, Custer, Custer County, South Dakota, USA. Scale: Not Given.
© Lou Perloff / Photo Atlas of Minerals

Apatite Crystallography

Help on Axial Ratios: Axial Ratios: a:c = 1:0.73454
Help on Cell Dimensions: Cell Dimensions: a = 9.38, c = 6.89, Z = 2; V = 525.00 Den(Calc)= 3.22
Help on Crystal System: Crystal System: Hexagonal - Dipyramidal H-M Symbol (6/m) Space Group: P 63/m
Help on Forms: Forms:

Mouse
Dbl Clk - Start-Stop Rotation
RMB - Cycle Display Modes
Drag1 - Manipulate Crystal
Drag2 - Resize

Keyboard
S - Stereo
I - Indicies
<space> - Start-Stop Rotation
F - Fit to Screen
M - Menu

Help on Above

Forms: ( 0 1 1) ( 0 1 0) ( 0 0 1)

Warning: this java applet does not work in some browsers because of security restrictions.

 

Physical Properties of Apatite

Help on Cleavage: Cleavage: {0001} Indistinct, {1010} Indistinct
Help on Color: Color: White, Yellow, Green, Red, Blue.
Help on Density: Density: 3.16 - 3.22, Average = 3.19
Help on Diaphaneity: Diaphaneity: Transparent to translucent
Help on Fracture: Fracture: Conchoidal - Fractures developed in brittle materials characterized by smoothly curving surfaces, (e.g. quartz).
Help on Habit: Habit: Colloform - Forming from a gel or colloidal mass.
Help on Habit: Habit: Earthy - Dull, clay-like texture with no visible crystalline affinities, (e.g. howlite).
Help on Habit: Habit: Massive - Granular - Common texture observed in granite and other igneous rock.
Help on Hardness: Hardness: 5 - Apatite
Help on Luminescence: Luminescence: Non-fluorescent.
Help on Luster: Luster: Vitreous (Glassy)
Help on Streak: Streak: white
 

Optical Properties of Apatite

Help on Gladstone-Dale: Gladstone-Dale: CI meas= 0.021 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= 0.03 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.1961,KPDmeas= 0.198,KC= 0.2021
Ncalc = 1.64 - 1.65
Help on Optical Data: Optical Data: Uniaxial (-), e=1.63, w=1.633, bire=0.0030.
 

Calculated Properties of Apatite

Help on Electron Density: Electron Density: Bulk Density (Electron Density)=3.17 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Apatite =3.19 gm/cc.
Help on Fermion Index: Fermion Index: Fermion Index = 0.0007174973
Boson Index = 0.9992825027
Help on Photoelectric: Photoelectric: PEApatite = 5.87 barns/electron
U=PEApatite x rElectron Density= 18.59 barns/cc.
Help on Radioactivity: Radioactivity: GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Apatite is Not Radioactive
 

Apatite Classification

Help on  Dana Class: Dana Class: 41.08.01.00 (41)Anhydrous Phosphates, etc. Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen
  (41.08)where (A)5 (XO4)3 Zq
  (41.08.01)Apatite Group
 
41.08.01.00 Apatite* Ca5(PO4)3(OH,F,Cl) P 63/m 6/m
 
41.08.01.01 Apatite-(CaF) Ca5(PO4)3F P 63/m 6/m
 
41.08.01.02 Apatite-(CaCl) Ca5(PO4)3Cl P 63/m 6/m
 
41.08.01.03 Apatite-(CaOH) Ca5(PO4)3(OH) P 63/m 6/m
 
41.08.01.04 Carbonate-fluorapatite? Ca5(PO4,CO3)3F P 63/m 6/m
 
41.08.01.05 Carbonate-hydroxylapatite? Ca5(PO4,CO3)3(OH) P 63/m 6/m
 
41.08.01.06 Belovite-(Ce) (Sr,Ce,Na,Ca)5(PO4)3(OH) P 3 3
 
41.08.01.06a Belovite-(La)! (Sr,La,Ce,Ca)5(PO4)3(F,OH) P 3 3
 
41.08.01.06b Kuannersuite-(Ce)! Ba6Na2REE2(PO4)6FCl P 3 3
 
41.08.01.07 Apatite-(SrOH) (Sr,Ca)5(PO4)3(F,OH) P 63/m 6/m
 
41.08.01.08 Fluorcaphite! (Ca,Sr,Ce,Na)5(PO4)3F P 63 6
 
41.08.01.09 Deloneite-(Ce)! NaCa2SrCe(PO4)3F P 3 3
 
41.08.01.10 IMA2008-009! Sr5(PO4)3F P 63/m 6/m 2/m 2/m
 
41.08.01.11 IMA2008-068! Ca2Pb3(PO4)3F P 63/m 6/m
 
41.08.01.12 Phosphohedyphane! Ca2Pb3(PO4)3Cl P 63/m 6/m
Help on  Strunz Class: Strunz Class: 08.BN.05 08 - PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
  08.B - Phosphates, etc. with Additional Anions, without H2O
  08.BN -With only large cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 0.33:1
 
08.BN.05 Alforsite Ba5(PO4)3Cl P 63/m 6/m
 
08.BN.05 Apatite* Ca5(PO4)3(OH,F,Cl) P 63/m 6/m
 
08.BN.05 Belovite-(Ce) (Sr,Ce,Na,Ca)5(PO4)3(OH) P 3 3
 
08.BN.05 Belovite-(La)! (Sr,La,Ce,Ca)5(PO4)3(F,OH) P 3 3
 
08.BN.05 Fermorite (Ca,Sr)5(AsO4,PO4)3(OH) P 63/m 6/m
 
08.BN.05 Deloneite-(Ce)! NaCa2SrCe(PO4)3F P 3 3
 
08.BN.05 Johnbaumite Ca5(AsO4)3(OH) P 63/m,P 63 Hex
 
08.BN.05 Apatite-(CaOH) Ca5(PO4)3(OH) P 63/m 6/m
 
08.BN.05 Apatite-(CaCl) Ca5(PO4)3Cl P 63/m 6/m
 
08.BN.05 Carbonate-fluorapatite? Ca5(PO4,CO3)3F P 63/m 6/m
 
08.BN.05 Carbonate-hydroxylapatite? Ca5(PO4,CO3)3(OH) P 63/m 6/m
 
08.BN.05 Clinomimetite Pb5(AsO4)3Cl P 21/b 2/m
 
08.BN.05 Apatite-(CaF) Ca5(PO4)3F P 63/m 6/m
 
08.BN.05 Fluorcaphite! (Ca,Sr,Ce,Na)5(PO4)3F P 63 6
 
08.BN.05 Hedyphane Ca2Pb3(AsO4)3Cl P 63/m 6/m
 
08.BN.05 Mimetite Pb5(AsO4)3Cl P 63/m 6/m
 
08.BN.05 Apatite-(SrOH) (Sr,Ca)5(PO4)3(F,OH) P 63/m 6/m
 
08.BN.05 Morelandite (Ba,Ca,Pb)5(AsO4,PO4)3Cl P 63/m,P 63 Hex
 
08.BN.05 Pyromorphite Pb5(PO4)3Cl P 63/m 6/m
 
08.BN.05 Vanadinite Pb5(VO4)3Cl P 63/m 6/m
 
08.BN.05 Apatite-(CaOH)-M! (Ca,Na)5[(P,S)O4]3(OH,Cl) P 21/b 2/m
 
08.BN.05 IMA2008-068! Ca2Pb3(PO4)3F P 63/m 6/m
 
08.BN.05 Svabite Ca5(AsO4)3F P 63/m 6/m
 
08.BN.05 Kuannersuite-(Ce)! Ba6Na2REE2(PO4)6FCl P 3 3
 
08.BN.05 Turneaureite Ca5[(As,P)O4]3Cl P 63/m 6/m
 
08.BN.05 Phosphohedyphane! Ca2Pb3(PO4)3Cl P 63/m 6/m
 
08.BN.05 IMA2008-009! Sr5(PO4)3F P 63/m 6/m 2/m 2/m
 
08.BN.05 Hydroxylpyromorphite! Pb5(PO4)3OH P 63/m 6/m
 

Other Apatite Information

Help on References: References: NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Mason68) OPTIC PROP.(Mason68)
Help on See Also: See Also: Links to other databases for Apatite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery
3 - Athena
4 - CalTech Mineral Spectroscopy
5 - Franklin Minerals(Dunn)
6 - Franklin Minerals(Palache)
7 - GeoScienceWorld
8 - Google Images
9 - Google Scholar
10 - MinDAT
11 - Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom
12 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
13 - NSDL Reciprocal Net (JAVA)
14 - Online Mineral Museum
15 - QUT Mineral Atlas
16 - Ruff.Info
17 - Scandinavian mineral gallery
18 - Tradeshop.com - The Rainbow of Gems
19 - UCLA - Petrography Thin-Sections
20 - University of Colorado - Mineral Structure Data
21 - WWW-MINCRYST
22 - YupRocks

Search for Apatite using:

Google
 
Web webmineral.com
[AOL] [Bing] [Dog Pile] [GeoScienceWorld] [HotBot] [Ixquick] [Lycos] [MAMMA] [Scirus] [Teoma] [WebCrawler] [Wikipedia] [YAHOO]

Visit our Advertisers for Apatite :

Ask about Apatite here :
Ask-A-Mineralogist from the Mineralogical Society of America
Mindat.org's Discussion Groups
Original Rockhounds Discussion Group
Rockhounds Discussion Group on Yahoo Groups
Mineral Discussion Forum from Fabre Minerals - also available in Espaņol

Print or Cut-and-Paste your Apatite Specimen Label here :

Apatite

Ca5(PO4)3(OH,F,Cl)
Dana No: 41.08.01.00 Strunz No: 08.BN.05
Locality:

 

Notes:

 

 
   
 


Dakota Matrix
Excalibur Minerals
Exceptional Minerals
Hudson Insitute
John Betts Fine Minerals
Mc Dougall Minerals
Mineral News
Rock and Mineral Shows
Weinrich Minerals, Inc.