Apatite
Image: Robert M. Lavinsky (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mineral NameApatite
Chemical FormulaCa5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH)
Mohs Hardness5
Crystal Systemhexagonal
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavageimperfect basal {0001}
Fractureconchoidal
Specific Gravity3.18
Colorsgreen, blue, yellow, pink, purple, colorless, brown
Transparencytransparent
Type LocalityMörchner area, Zemmgrund, Ziller valley, North Tyrol, Tyrol
Mineral GroupPhosphates
Usesfertilizer, gemstone, collector
Associated Mineralsmuscovite
Rarityuncommon
Description
This specimen features several translucent, greenish-blue hexagonal apatite crystals, some with distinct terminations, embedded within a matrix that also contains silvery muscovite flakes.
Geological Context
Apatite is a common accessory mineral found in a wide range of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, often forming in pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, and as a primary constituent in some phosphate-rich sedimentary deposits.
