Apatite Mineral Data

General Apatite Information

Chemical Formula:

Ca5(PO4)3(OH,F,Cl)

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

Empirical Formula:

Ca₅(PO₄)₃(OH)_0.33F_0.33Cl_0.33

Environment:

Apatite is now a group name for a series of related minerals.

IMA Status:

Not Approved IMA

Locality:

Common world wide. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named in 1788 from the Greek apatao - "I am misleading."

Name Pronunciation:

Apatite

Synonym:

Davisonite - mixture with crandallite

Dennisonite - mixture with crandallite

Apatite Image

Images:

Apatite Carbonate-fluorapatite

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

Images:

Apatite Apatite-(CaF) Beryl Muscovite

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

Images:

Apatite Robertsite Carbonate-hydroxylapatite

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

Axial Ratios:

a:c = 1:0.73454

Cell Dimensions:

a = 9.38, c = 6.89, Z = 2; V = 525.00 Den(Calc)= 3.22

Crystal System:

Hexagonal - DipyramidalH-M Symbol (6/m) Space Group: P 6₃/m

Forms:

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

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Physical Properties of Apatite

Cleavage:

{0001} Indistinct, {1010} Indistinct

Color:

White, Yellow, Green, Red, Blue.

Density:

3.16 - 3.22, Average = 3.19

Diaphaneity:

Transparent to translucent

Fracture:

Conchoidal - Fractures developed in brittle materials characterized by smoothly curving surfaces, (e.g. quartz).

Habit:

Colloform - Forming from a gel or colloidal mass.

Habit:

Earthy - Dull, clay-like texture with no visible crystalline affinities, (e.g. howlite).

Habit:

Massive - Granular - Common texture observed in granite and other igneous rock.

Hardness:

5 - Apatite

Luminescence:

Non-fluorescent.

Luster:

Vitreous (Glassy)

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Apatite

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

Optical Data:

Uniaxial (-), e=1.63, w=1.633, bire=0.0030.

Calculated Properties of Apatite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=3.17 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Apatite =3.19 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.0007174973
Boson Index = 0.9992825027

Photoelectric:

PE_Apatite= 5.87 barns/electron
U=PE_Apatite x rElectron Density= 18.59 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Apatite is Not Radioactive

Apatite Classification

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

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

References:

NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Mason68) OPTIC PROP.(Mason68)

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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: