Apatite
“The mineral in your bones”
Mineral
Apatite is a group of phosphate minerals that comes in a wide range of colors including blue, green, yellow, and violet. It's biologically essential — a form of apatite called hydroxyapatite makes up about 70% of human bone and nearly all tooth enamel.
Composition
calcium phosphate (Ca₅(PO₄)₃(F,Cl,OH))
Where Found
Cerro de Mercado (Mexico), Kola Peninsula (Russia), Madagascar, Myanmar, Maine (USA)
Mohs Hardness
5
Fun Fact
Apatite is named from the Greek word 'apatein' meaning 'to deceive' because its many colors caused it to be frequently mistaken for other minerals like beryl and tourmaline.
Test Your Knowledge
Why is apatite critical to the global food supply?
Related Specimens
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