mineral
Blue Apatite
Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH)
Hardness: 5 on the Mohs scale, Color: Vibrant blue to teal, Luster: Vitreous to sub-resinous, Crystal Structure: Hexagonal, Cleavage: Poor on {0001}, Specific Gravity: 3.1-3.2
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5 on the Mohs scale, Color: Vibrant blue to teal, Luster: Vitreous to sub-resinous, Crystal Structure: Hexagonal, Cleavage: Poor on {0001}, Specific Gravity: 3.1-3.2
Formation & geological history
Forms in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments, often crystallizing in pegmatites and hydrothermal veins.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in fertilizer production due to phosphate content, as a gemstone for jewelry (though soft), and popular among mineral collectors.
Geological facts
Apatite is the defining mineral for a hardness of 5 on the Mohs scale. Teeth and bones in vertebrate animals are composed of a form of apatite.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive blue color, hexagonal crystal form when well-developed, and its characteristic hardness of 5. Found worldwide including in Brazil, Madagascar, and Mexico.
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