apatite

apatite

apatite A widely distributed phosphate mineral, with the formula Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH); sp. gr. 3.1–3.3; hardness 5; hexagonal; usually a shade of green or grey-green, but may also be white, brown, yellow, bluish, or red; white streak; vitreous lustre; crystals commonly hexagonal prisms, and often tabular, also occurs massive, and granular; cleavage, basal {0001}, imperfect prismatic {1010}; found as an accessory mineral in igneous rock, in pegmatites and high-temperature hydrothermal veins, and in metamorphic rocks. It is the principal constituent of fossil bones (see also COLLOPHANE). Apatite is widely used as a phosphate fertilizer, and for the production of phosphoric acid and various other chemicals.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "apatite." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "apatite." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-apatite.html

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "apatite." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-apatite.html

Learn more about citation styles

apatite

apatite A complex mineral form of the salt calcium phosphate, Ca5(PO4)3(OH,F,Cl), that is the main constituent of the enamel of teeth.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"apatite." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"apatite." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-apatite.html

"apatite." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-apatite.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

Apatite.(Jewel of the Month)
Magazine article from: Jewelers Circular Keystone; 11/1/2004
ORTHOPAEDICS: Apatite-organic polymer composites may prove useful in bone repair
Newspaper article from: Biomedical Materials; 2/1/1996
Nanocrystalline apatite-based biomaterials.(Brief article)(Book review)
Magazine article from: SciTech Book News; 6/1/2009

Facts and information from other sites

apatite images
apatite. Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)