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Phosphate · Apatite Group

Fluorapatite

Ca₅(PO₄)₃F

The common apatite — fluorine-bearing, hexagonal, and in almost every rock.

Hardness5
Crystal systemHexagonal
LusterVitreous
Sp. gravity3.18–3.22
ClassPhosphate
←PrevFluoranniteNextFluorapophyllite-(Cs)→
Fluorapatite specimen

Fluorapatite — Photo: Géry PARENT · CC BY-SA 4.0

What is Fluorapatite?

Fluorapatite — Ca₅(PO₄)₃F — is the dominant member of the apatite group and the mineral most 'apatite' specimens actually are. It crystallizes as stubby to prismatic hexagonal barrels in nearly every igneous and metamorphic rock on Earth.

Tooth enamel fluoridation works by converting the hydroxylapatite of enamel toward the more acid-resistant fluorapatite — the same mineral family as the gem crystals.

In one sentence: The fluorine end-member of apatite — most apatite in nature is this species.

Physical Properties

The full data table is in the panel alongside. Here’s what those numbers actually mean.

End members. Fluorapatite–chlorapatite–hydroxylapatite form a series on the anion site.

Hardness. Defines Mohs 5 — the practical mineralogy benchmark.

Occurrence. From granite accessories to kilometer-scale Khibiny orebodies.

What It’s Used For

FertilizerPhosphorite (massive fluorapatite) supplies most agricultural phosphorus.
GemstoneNeon blue-green stones cut for collectors.

How to Identify It

H 5 — the Mohs standardHexagonal prisms with flat or pyramidal endsWhite streakCommon accessory — look for small hex prisms in any granite
Looks like…But differs because…Quick test
HydroxylapatiteOH-dominant; only lab analysis separates the speciesChemistry
BerylHarder, imperfect basal cleavage different, pegmatite habitHardness

Where It’s Found

Notable localities for fine specimens:

Panasqueira, Portugal Cerro de Mercado, Mexico Mogok, Myanmar Khibiny massif, RussiaOpen the locality map →