mineral
Apatite
Calcium phosphate fluoride/chloride, Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH)
Mohs hardness of 5, colors ranging from blue, green, yellow, to purple, vitreous to sub-resinous luster, hexagonal crystal system, poor cleavage, specific gravity of 3.1-3.2
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Physical properties
Mohs hardness of 5, colors ranging from blue, green, yellow, to purple, vitreous to sub-resinous luster, hexagonal crystal system, poor cleavage, specific gravity of 3.1-3.2
Formation & geological history
Forms in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments; commonly found in pegmatites and hydrothermal veins
Uses & applications
Used primarily as a gemstone in jewelry, a source of phosphorus for fertilizer, and by mineral collectors
Geological facts
Apatite is the defining mineral for 5 on the Mohs hardness scale. It is also the main component of tooth enamel and bones in vertebrates.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive hexagonal crystal form and hardness of 5 (can be scratched by a knife, but scratches glass with difficulty). Found globally, notably in Brazil, Madagascar, Mexico, and Myanmar.
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