Cochise College Photos of Minerals

Roger Weller, geology instructor

[email protected]
copyright 2006-R.Weller

Mineral Information on:
apatite

Chemical Group:    phosphate

Chemical Formula:    ranges between (CaF)Ca₄(PO₄)₃ and (CaCl)Ca₄(PO₄)₃

Color:   sea green, bluish green, yellow, gray, red, flesh-red, brown,
     dark blue

Luster: vitreous to sub-resinous        Fluorescence: some varieties are fluorescent

Transparency: transparent to opaque         Streak: white

Hardness: 5 Specific Gravity: 3.17 to 3.23 Fracture: conchoidal and uneven

Crystal Forms and Habits: Hexagonal system

Mineral Associations:

Identifying Characteristics: Easily confused with many other minerals.

Uses: Used as a fertilizer
    If very transparent, , purple, yellow, and bluish-green varieties are gemstones.

USA occurrences:
Maine
     Mount Apatite, Poland Township, Androscoggin County
     Berry quarry, Poland Township, Androscoggin County
     Rubellite mine, Hebron Township, Oxford County
     Harvard quarry, Greenwood Township, Oxford County
     Thomas quarry, Phippsburg Township, Sagadahoc County
     Davis mine, West Bath Township, Sagadahoc County
     Tiger Bill mine, Greenwood Township,
     Bennett quarry, North Buckfield Village, Oxford County
New Hampshire
     G.E. Smith Mica Mine, Chandler's Mills, Sullivan County
     Charles Davis mine and Palermo Quarry, North Grofton, Grafton County
     Conway Township, Carroll County
New York
Connecticut
     Strickland quarry, Portland, Middlesex County
Massachusetts
     Pelham, Hampshire County

WORLD-WIDE occurrences:
Mexico
     Cerro de Mercado, Durango
Russia
Australia
Germany
     Ehrenfriedersdorf and Waldstein

Toxicity:      when-swallowed- low          when inhaled- moderate

Additional Information: Teeth and bones are made of the mineral apatite.