mineral
Blue Apatite
Calcium phosphate fluorapatite Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 5 on the Mohs scale, vitreous luster, blue to greenish-blue color, and hexagonal crystal system with poor cleavage.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 5 on the Mohs scale, vitreous luster, blue to greenish-blue color, and hexagonal crystal system with poor cleavage.
Formation & geological history
Forms in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments, often crystallizing in pegmatites and hydrothermal veins.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as a gemstone, in mineral specimen collecting, and as the main source of phosphorus for fertilizers.
Geological facts
Apatite is the defining mineral for a hardness of 5 on the Mohs scale and is chemically similar to the material making up human teeth and bones.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive blue color and Mohs hardness of 5, commonly found in Madagascar, Brazil, and Mexico.
