Apatite

Blue Quartz

Minerals & Ores

Additional minerals color this quartz a brilliant blue; a fine specimen for the marketplace! Then again, one can never have too many shiny things in one's own hoard...

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Apatite

Blue Quartz

Minerals & Ores

Additional minerals color this quartz a brilliant blue; a fine specimen for the marketplace! Then again, one can never have too many shiny things in one's own hoard...

70

Ca₅(PO₄)₃(F,Cl,OH) dipyramidal hexagons
 
Apatite is a group of phosphate minerals, usually hydroxyapatite, fluorapatite, and chlorapatite, with high concentrations of hydroxide, fluoride, and chloride ions, respectively, in the crystal. Apatite's name is derived from the Greek word ἀπατάω (apatáō), which means to deceive; it is often mistaken for other minerals such as beryl and tourmaline. It is the defining mineral for 5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, and can be distinguished from other minerals by its relative softness. it is also often fluorescent under ultraviolet light.
 
Apatite is one of a few minerals produced and used by biological micro-environmental systems. Hydroxyapatite is a major component of tooth enamel and bone material. Fluorapatite is more resistant to acid attack than hydroxyapatite; in the mid-20th century, it was discovered that communities whose water supply naturally contained fluorine (presumably from eroded apatite) had lower rates of dental cavities. Fluoridated water allows exchange in the teeth of fluoride ions for hydroxyl groups in apatite. The primary use of apatite is as a source of phosphate in the manufacture of fertilizer and other industrial uses. It is also occasionally found to contain significant amounts of rare-earth elements and can be used as an ore for those metals.
 
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