Fluorapatite

The most common variety of apatite, which occurs in a range of colours. Good crystals are popular amongst mineral collectors.

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Information about Fluorapatite

Fluorapatite is the most common variety of apatite, typically forming as hexagonal crystals that are prismatic, tabular, or acicular in habit. It appears in a wide range of colours including green, blue, violet, yellow, brown, and colourless, depending on trace elements. Crystals may be transparent to translucent and often exhibit a vitreous lustre. Well-formed specimens can be visually striking and are highly prized by collectors.

Uses and History

 

Fluorapatite is a major component of phosphate rock, which is processed to produce phosphoric acid for use in fertilisers, animal feed, and detergents. It is also important in geology and petrology for understanding magmatic processes. Due to its attractive colours, fluorapatite is occasionally used as a gemstone, although it is relatively soft. In biological research, it’s significant for its structural similarity to the mineral component of bones and teeth.

 

Fluorapatite was identified as a distinct end-member of the apatite group due to the presence of fluorine. Significant deposits have been mined in Brazil, Mexico, Canada, Madagascar, and the United States. In recent decades, it has gained popularity in the gemstone market due to the vivid blues and greens of some specimens.

 

The mineral was renamed to Apatite-(CaF) in 2008, buuuut I can’t put brackets in names on here, so, its fluorapatite. Shh.

The type locality for fluorapatite is Sauberg Mine, Saxony, Germany.

Mineralogy

Chemistry
Ca₅(PO₄)₃F (Calcium phosphate with fluorine)
Colours and Variations

blue, violet, yellow, brown, colourless; colour depends on impurities

Streak
White
Luster
Vitreous to sub-resinous
Transparency
transparent to opaque
Fracture
transparent to opaque
Crystal habit
Hexagonal, prismatic, often elongated – massive, granular
Mohs hardness
5
Fluorescence
Often fluorescent under UV light, typically yellow or blue
Specific Gravity
3.1-3.2
Easiest testing method

Hazards and Warnings

Mineral collectors should wash their hands after handling specimens, to avoid any exposure to potential toxins.

Almost all rocks, minerals (and, frankly, almost all other substances on earth) can produce toxic dust when cutting, which can cause serious respiratory conditions including silicosis. When cutting or polishing rocks, minerals, shells, etc, all work should be done wet to minimise the dust, and a suitable respirator or extraction system should be used.

 

Translations

Arabic:

  • فلورأباتيت

Hindi:

Portuguese:

Bengali:

Indonesian:

Punjabi:

English:

  • Fluorapatite
  • Apatite-(CaF)

Italian:

Russian:

  • Фторапатит

French:

Japanese:

  • フルオロアパタイト

Spanish:

  • Fluorapatit

German:

  • Fluorapatit

Korean:

Thai:

Gujurati:

Mandarin Chinese:

  • 氟磷灰石

Urdu:

Further Reading / External Links