mineral
Blue Apatite
Calcium phosphate mineral, Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH)
Hardness of 5 on the Mohs scale, deep blue to teal color, vitreous to sub-resinous luster, hexagonal crystal system, poor cleavage, specific gravity of approximately 3.1 to 3.2.
Identified More mineral →
Explore Blue Apatite in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness of 5 on the Mohs scale, deep blue to teal color, vitreous to sub-resinous luster, hexagonal crystal system, poor cleavage, specific gravity of approximately 3.1 to 3.2.
Formation & geological history
Forms in all three major rock types (igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary), typically crystallizing in pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, or metamorphic limestone. Formed over geological timescales through the concentration of phosphate-rich fluids.
Uses & applications
Primarily used as a source of phosphorus for agricultural fertilizers, in chemical manufacturing, as a gemstone for collectors and jewelry (though soft for everyday wear), and in metaphysical practices.
Geological facts
Apatite is the defining mineral for the 5th point on the Mohs hardness scale. It is also the most abundant phosphate mineral on Earth and is chemically similar to the material comprising human teeth and bones.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified by its distinctive blue or greenish-blue color, conchoidal fracture, and characteristic Mohs hardness of 5. Found worldwide with notable deposits in Madagascar, Brazil, Mexico, and the United States.
More like this
Other mineral specimens
Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Soil with Mineral Detritus and Quartz Fragments
Regolith / Silicate Mineral Aggregate
sedimentary
Limonite / Goethite (Iron Ore Mineral nodule)
FeO(OH)·nH2O / FeO(OH)
mineral
Septarian Pebble
Septarian nodule / Concretion
sedimentary
Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase)
Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8)
mineral
Schist
Schist
Metamorphic