FLUORAPATITE is a member of the APATITE family of minerals.
This gemmy green Fluorapatite crystals was exposed by breaking away the host rock of
coarse grained marble. This specimen is from the Bancroft area of Ontario,
Canada.
Another Fluorapatite crystal from Bancroft, Ontario Canada. This view of a
hexagonal prism with pyramid and pinacoid termination. The image on the
right is a view down the "C" axis (looking down the top of the crystal).
An unusual blue Fluorapatite
from Brazil.
CHEMISTRY Ca5(PO4)3F Calcium fluophosphate
CRYSTALLOGRAPHY Hexagonal
CRYSTAL GROWTH AND HABITS Fluorapatite crystals are long to short prismatic. Fluorapatite can also occur as botryoidal crusts and in massive beds.
COLOR AND OTHER OPTICAL PROPERTIES Colors of fluorapatite include green, blue, purple, pink, yellow, brown, white and colorless. The crystals are commonly zoned and mottled. They are transparent to translucent.
HARDNESS 5
SPECIFIC GRAVITY 3.1 - 3.2
LUSTER Vitreous
STREAK White
BREAKABILITY Fluorapatite has a poor basal cleavage and is brittle.
OCCURRENCE Fluorapatite is by far the most abundant mineral containing phosphorous. It is commonly found in almost all igneous rocks and in pegmatites and hydrothermal veins. It is also found in crystallized limestones and as extensive marine beds.
ASSOCIATED MINERALS Diopside, Calcite, Forsterite, Scapolite, Sphene, Zircon