Scientific Name: Fluorapatite or Hydroxylapatite
Group: Phosphates
Chemical composition: Ca5(Po4)3(F,OH,Cl)
Colors: Green, blue, violet, purple, colorless, yellow or rose
Hardness: 5
Formation: Hexagonal or monoclinic crystals; Prismatc, tabular form
Principal Sources: Mexico; Canada; Namibia; Germany; Russia.
Special Notes: Apatite is a group of phosphate minerals, usually referring to hydroxyapatite, fluorapatite, chlorapatite and bromapatite in the crystal. Apatite is one of a few minerals that are produced and used by biological micro-environmental systems. Hydroxy-apatite is the major component of tooth enamel and bone mineral. A relatively rare form of apatite is a large component of bone material. Apatite is an accessory mineral of igneous rock and is a major source of phosphorus