Apatite

History

Apatite was first named in 1788 for the Greek word apatite meaning “to deceive” owing to the fact that apatite has such a similar appearance to so many other minerals. Interestingly the bones and teeth of most animals, including humans, are made from calcium phosphate, which is the same material as apatite. This group of minerals have a great many uses including being used in fertiliser, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, sugar refining, textiles (such as silk) and has even been used to replace amputated bone and promote bone growth on prosthetic implants. Another fun fact about this crystal is that traces of apatite was found in the moon rocks brought to earth by the Apollo astronauts in the 1960s-1970s.

Geogrpahy

Apatite can be found all over the world. Localities where deposits have been found include Germany, Russia, Mexico, Brazil, Kenya, Madagascar, Norway, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Mexico, Canada and the United States.

Geology

Apatite is in fact not a single stone but a group of calcium phosphate minerals, as hexagonal crystals, granular masses or in fine-grained masses, it can be extremely difficult to distinguish between the individual members since they partially replace each other and as a result distinction is very rarely made and instead they are all referred to as apatite. Widely distributed and found in all classes of rock - igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic, though the larger, well-formed crystals are usually found within metamorphic rocks. It can also be found in phosphorite and in some hydrothermal veins and in iron rich igneous deposits along with feldspar, quartz and iron ores. Apatite is made up of three minerals which is the reason for the varied hues in which it can be found. This unique family of crystals are made of calcium phosphate combined with fluorine, chlorine or hydroxyl. These are found in every specimen to varying degrees, some specimens have even been known to have 100% of one or the other.