Apatite
Apatite
is a group of phosphate
minerals, usually referring to
hydroxylapatite, fluorapatite and
chlorapatite,
named for high concentrations of OH, F,
Cl or ions, respectively, in the
crystal. The formula of the admixture of
the four most common endmembers
is written as Ca10(PO4)6(OH,F,Cl)2, and
the crystal unit cell formulae
of the individual minerals are written
as Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2, Ca10(PO4)6(F)2
and Ca10(PO4)6(Cl)2.
Apatite
is one of a few minerals
produced and used by biological
micro-environmental systems. Apatite is
the defining mineral for 5 on the Mohs
scale. Hydroxyapatite, also known
as hydroxylapatite, is the major
component of tooth enamel and bone
mineral.
A relatively rare form of apatite in
which most of the OH groups are absent
and containing many carbonate and acid
phosphate substitutions is a large
component of bone material.
Fluorapatite
(or fluoroapatite)
is more resistant to acid attack than is
hydroxyapatite; in the mid-20th
century, it was discovered that
communities whose water supply naturally
contained fluorine had lower rates of
dental caries. Fluoridated water
allows exchange in the teeth of fluoride
ions for hydroxyl groups in apatite.
Similarly, toothpaste typically contains
a source of fluoride anions (e.g.
sodium fluoride, sodium
monofluorophosphate). Too much fluoride
results
in dental fluorosis and/or skeletal
fluorosis.
Fission
tracks in apatite are
commonly used to determine the thermal
history of orogenic (mountain) belts
and of sediments in sedimentary basins.
(U-Th)/He dating of apatite is
also well established for use in
determining thermal histories and other,
less typical applications such as
paleo-wildfire dating.
Phosphorite
is a phosphate-rich
sedimentary rock, that contains between
18% and 40% P2O5. The apatite in
phosphorite is present as
cryptocrystalline masses referred to as
collophane.
Gemology
Apatite
is infrequently used
as a gemstone. Transparent stones of
clean color have been faceted, and
chatoyant specimens have been cabochon
cut. Chatoyant stones are known
as cat's-eye apatite, transparent green
stones are known as asparagus stone,
and blue stones have been called
moroxite. If crystals of rutile have
grown
in the crystal of apatite, in the right
light the cut stone displays a
cat's eye effect. Major sources for gem
apatite are Brazil, Burma, and
Mexico. Other sources include Canada,
Czech Republic, Germany, India,
Madagascar,
Mozambique, Norway, South Africa, Spain,
Sri Lanka, and the United States.
SOURCE
Bear Lake diggings, Monmouth Township, Haliburton Co., Ontario, Canada
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