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Apatite-(CaF)

Big Photo

Pulsifer Quarry & Dionne extension, Mt. Apatite District, Auburn, Androscoggin Co., Maine, USA
© Van King

Show Apatite-(CaF) Photos (1226)
Formula:
Ca
 
5
[F|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
System:HexagonalColour:Colorles to white when ...
Lustre:VitreousHardness:5
Name:From the Greek "Apatao" = "I am misleading" (apatite is often confused with other minerals, for instance beryl, milarite) and the "FLUOR-" prefix in allusion to the dominance of fluorine in the composition.


Apatite Group. The fluorine analogue of Apatite-(CaCl) and Apatite-(CaOH). The phosphate analogue of Svabite. The Ca5 analogue of Belovite-(Ce), Belovite-(La), and Kuannersuite-(Ce).

Apatite-(CaF) is by far the most common species in the apatite group. It occurs in almost all igneous rocks, during initial phases of paragenesis, as an accessory mineral, commonly in microscopic crystals, and may occur as very large bodies as late-magmatic segregations in alkaline igneous rocks. Also occurs crystallized in pegmatitic facies of acidic and basic types of igneous rocks. Common in magnetite deposits, and in hydrothermal veins, particularly those formed at high temperatures, and in Alpine cleft-type veins.

Classification of Apatite-(CaF)

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/B.39-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.BN.05

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
N : With only large cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 0.33:1
Dana 8th edition ID:41.8.1.1

41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
8 : A5(XO4)3Zq
Hey's CIM Ref.:22.1.9

22 : Phosphates, Arsenates or Vanadates with other Anions
1 : Phosphates, arsenates or vanadates with fluoride
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Type Occurrence of Apatite-(CaF)

Type Locality:Greifenstein Rocks, Ehrenfriedersdorf, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany
Year of Discovery:1860

Occurrences of Apatite-(CaF)

Geological Setting:Most common rock forming phosphate. Accessory mineral in most igneous rocks with important concentrations in carbonatites. Common in marbles and skarns. Major mineral in sedimentary phosphorites.

Physical Properties of Apatite-(CaF)

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Opaque
Colour:Colorles to white when pure, also green, blue, pink, yellow, brown, violet, purple.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):5
Hardness Data:Mohs hardness reference species
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Poor/Indistinct
Indistinct (0001) and (1010)
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.1 - 3.25 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.18 g/cm3

Crystallography of Apatite-(CaF)

Crystal System:Hexagonal
Class (H-M):6/m - Dipyramidal
Space Group:P63/m
Cell Parameters:a = 9.3973Å, c = 6.8782Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.732
Unit Cell Volume:V 526.03 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Crystals short to long hexagonal prisms [0001], with {1010} and {1011} dominant; also thick tabular {0001}, frequently in the crystals of hydrothermal origin in pegmatites and veins, with {1010}, relatively large {0001}, and often also {1011} or low pyramids. Massive, coarse granular to compact.
Twinning:Rare contact twins on {1121}. Twin plane {1013} rare. Also twinning reported on {1010} and {1123}.
Comment:May be space group P21/b

Epitaxial Relationships of Apatite-(CaF)

Epitaxial Minerals:
RutileMonaziteCarbonate-rich Apatite
Epitaxi Comments:Needle-like rutile crystals included in the apatite with the c-axes of the two species parallel; Monazite in oriented inclusions; Carbonate-fluorapatite enclosing Fluorapatite
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Apatite-(CaF)

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.631 - 1.650 nε = 1.633 - 1.646
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.002

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:Weak to strong in coloured crystals:
Colour: .Violet .........Pale Green .............Yellow ..............Blue
O = ..Deep violet .....Pale yellow ..Yellow-brown ......Sky-blue
E = ..Red-violet .Pale blue-green ..Dark green ...Green-blue

Chemical Properties of Apatite-(CaF)

Formula:
Ca
 
5
[F|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
Essential elements:Ca, F, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Ca, F, O, P
Common Impurities:OH,Cl,TR,La,Ce,Pr,Nd,Sm,Eu,Gd,Dy,Y,Er,Mn

Relationship of Apatite-(CaF) to other Species

Member of Group:
Apatite Subgroup:
Apatite Supergroup:
A
 
5
(XO
 
4
)
 
3
Z
 
q
Common Associates:
ZirconVesuvianiteTitaniteSpinelPyroxene Group
PhlogopiteMagnetiteCalciteAmphibole GroupAlbite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.BN.05Alforsite
Ba
 
5
[Cl|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Belovite-(Ce)
NaSr
 
3
(Ce,La)[(F,OH)|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Carbonate-rich Apatite-(CaF)
Ca
 
5
[(F,O)|(PO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Carbonate-rich Apatite-(CaOH)
Ca
 
5
[(OH,O)|(PO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Apatite-(CaCl)
Ca
 
5
[Cl|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Clinomimetite
Pb
 
5
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Fermorite
(Ca,Sr)
 
5
(AsO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
8.BN.05Hedyphane
Pb
 
3
Ca
 
2
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Apatite-(CaOH)
Ca
 
5
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Johnbaumite
Ca
 
5
[OH|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Mimetite
Pb
 
5
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Morelandite
(Ba,Ca,Pb)
 
5
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Pyromorphite
Pb
 
5
[Cl|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Apatite-(SrOH)
(Sr,Ca)
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH,F)
8.BN.05Svabite
Ca
 
5
[(F,Cl,OH)|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Turneaureite
Ca
 
5
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Vanadinite
Pb
 
5
[Cl|(VO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Belovite-(La)
NaSr
 
3
(La,Ce)[(F,OH)|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Deloneite-(Ce)
NaCa
 
2
SrCe(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
8.BN.05Fluorcaphite
(Ca,Sr,Ce,Na)
 
5
[F|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Kuannersuite-(Ce)
NaBa
 
3
(Ce,Nd,La)[(F,Cl)|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Apatite-(CaOH)-M
(Ca,Na)
 
3
Ca
 
2
[(OH,Cl)|(PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Phosphohedyphane
Pb
 
3
Ca
 
2
[Cl|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05IMA2008-009
Sr
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
8.BN.05IMA2008-068
Ca
 
2
Pb
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
8.BN.10Arctite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
22.1.1Amblygonite
LiAl[(F,OH)|PO
 
4
]
22.1.2Lacroixite
NaAl[F|PO
 
4
]
22.1.3Natrophosphate
Na
 
7
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
F·19H
 
2
O
22.1.5Nacaphite
Na
 
2
Ca[F|PO
 
4
]
22.1.6Arctite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
22.1.7Nefedovite
Na
 
5
Ca
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
F
22.1.10Herderite
CaBe[(F,OH)|PO
 
4
]
22.1.11Isokite
CaMg[F|PO
 
4
]
22.1.12Panasqueiraite
CaMg[(OH,F)|PO
 
4
]
22.1.13Babefphite
BaBe[(F,OH)|PO
 
4
]
22.1.14Fluellite
Al
 
2
[F
 
2
|OH|PO
 
4
] · 7H
 
2
O
22.1.15Minyulite
KAl
 
2
[(OH,F)|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
22.1.16Morinite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
4
Al
 
4
[(F,OH)
 
5
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
22.1.17Bøggildite
Na
 
2
Sr
 
2
Al
 
2
PO
 
4
F
 
9
22.1.18Apatite-(SrOH)
(Sr,Ca)
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH,F)
22.1.19Viitaniemiite
Na(Ca,Mn
2+
 
)Al[(F,OH)
 
3
|PO
 
4
]
22.1.20Väyrynenite
Mn
2+
 
Be[(OH,F)|PO
 
4
]
22.1.21Maxwellite
NaFe
3+
 
[F|AsO
 
4
]
22.1.22Wagnerite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
[F|PO
 
4
]
22.1.23Triplite
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
[(F,OH)|PO
 
4
]
22.1.24Magniotriplite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
[F|PO
 
4
]
22.1.25Zwieselite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
[F|PO
 
4
]
22.1.26Mcauslanite
HFe
2+
3
Al
 
2
[F|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 18H
 
2
O
22.1.27Richellite
Ca
 
3
Fe
3+
10
[(OH,F)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
4
 · nH
 
2
O (not confirmed)
22.1.28Svabite
Ca
 
5
[(F,Cl,OH)|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
]
22.1.29Tilasite
CaMg[F|AsO
 
4
]
22.1.30Fermorite
(Ca,Sr)
 
5
(AsO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
22.1.31Durangite
NaAl[F|AsO
 
4
]

Other Names for Apatite-(CaF)

Synonyms:
Chlor-fluorapatiteFluor-apatiteHydroxyl-fluorapatiteMangualditeNauruite
OxyapatiteVoelckerite
Other Languages:
German:Fluorapatit
Agustit
Italian:Fluorapatite
Russian:Фторапатит
Апатит-(CaF)
Spanish:Fluorapatita
Varieties:
Carbonate-rich Apatite-(CaF)CuproapatiteFrancoliteHolmbushiteMn-bearing Apatite-(CaF)
SaamiteSoda-DehrniteStaffeliteStrontian ApatiteSulphatapatit

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:Often fluorescent and phosphorescent, especially the manganoan varieties.
Electrical:Non-piezoelectric
Thermal Behaviour:Strongly thermoluminescent at times.
Other Information:Soluble in HCl or in HNO3. Varieties containing CO3 may dissolve with slight effervescence.
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Industrial Uses:Source of phosphorus.

References for Apatite-(CaF)

Reference List:Koksharov, N. von (1854) Materialien zur Mineralogie Russlands. 11 volumes with atlas: vol. 2: 39.

Rammelsberg, C.F. (1860) Handbuch der Mineralchemie. First edition, Leipzig: 353 (as Fluorapatit).

Koksharov, N. von (1866) Materialien zur Mineralogie Russlands. 11 volumes with atlas: vol. 5: 5: 86.

Baumhauer (1887) Akademie der Wissenschaften, Berlin (Sitzungsberichte der): 42: 863.

Hidden and Washington (1887) American Journal of Science: 33: 501.

Karnojitsky (1895) Vh. Min. Ges. St. Petersburg: 33: 65.

Washington (1895) Journal of Geology, Chicago: 3: 25.

Baumhauer (1899) Akademie der Wissenschaften, Berlin (Sitzungsberichte der): 45: 447.

Heddle, M.F. (1901) The Mineralogy of Scotland. 2 volumes, Edinburgh: 2: 158.

Wolff and Palache (1902) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 36: 438.

Baumhauer (1908) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 45: 555.

Pöschl (1909) Härte der fest. Körper: 55.

Lacroix, A. (1910) Minéralogie de la France et des ses colonies, Paris. 5 volumes: vol. 4: 387.

Dürrfeld (1912) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 50: 590.

Nacken (1912) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 547.

Eissner (1913) Inaugural Dissertation, Leipzig.

Elschner (1913) Corallogene Phosphat-Insel Austral Oceanien, Lubeck (as Nauruite).

Goldschmidt, V. (1913) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text: vol. 1: 73.

Elschner (1914) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 543 (as Nauruite).

Grosspietsch (1915) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 54: 461.

Brauns (1916) Jb. Min., Beil.-Bd.: 41: 60 (as Sulfatapatit).

Holmquist (1916) Geologiska Föeningens I Stockholm. Förhandlinger, Stockholm: 38: 501.

Bellucci and Grassi (1919) Gazzetta chimica italiana, Rome: 49: 232.

Bianchi (1919) Atti soc. ital. sc. Nat.: 58: 306.

Lorenz (1921) Ber. Ak. Leipzig, Sitzber., math.-phys.: 73: 249, 267.

Mieleitner (1921) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 56: 90.

Hawkins (1922) American Mineralogist: 7: 27.

Zambonini (1923) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 58: 226.

Bornemann-Starinkevitch (1924) Comptes rendus de l’académie des sciences de l’U.R.S.S., n.s.: 39.

Fersman (1924) Comptes rendus de l’académie des sciences de l’U.R.S.S., n.s.: 42.

Barthoux (1925) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 48: 225.

Niggli and Faesy (1925) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 62: 154-166.

Whitlock (1925) American Museum Nov., No. 190.

Parker (1926) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 64: 224.

Honess, A.P. (1927) The Nature, Origin and Interpretation of the Etch Figures on Crystals. 171pp., New York: 98.

Ichikawa (1927) American Journal of Science: 14: 231.

Hausen (1929) Acta Ac. Aboensis, Math. Physica: Kl. 5, no. 3.

Himmelbauer (1929) Konigliche Akademie der Wissenschaften, Vienna, Sitzber.: 138: 251.

Kalb (1930) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 74: 469.

Mehmel (1930) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 75: 323.

Náray-Szabó (1930) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 75: 387.

Gennaro (1931) Reale accademia delle scienze di Torino, Att.: 66: 433.

Mehmel (1931) Zeitschrift für Physikalische Chemie, Leipzig, Berlin: 15: 223.

Hendricks, Jefferson, and Mosley (1932) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 81: 352.

de Jesus (1933) Com. Serv. Geol. Portugal: 19: 142 (as Mangualdite).

Granigg (1933) Zeitschrift für praktische Geologie, Berlin, hale a.S. 41: 1.

Antonov (1934) State Chem. Tech. Publ., Leningrad: 7, 196 pp.

Köhler and Haberlandt (1934) Chemie der Erde, Jena: 9: 88 (luminescence).

Dadson (1935) University of Toronto Stud., Geology Series, no. 35: 51.

Iwase (1935) Sci. Pap. Inst. Phys. Chem. Res., Tokyo: 27, no. 567: 1.

Otto (1935) Mineralogische und petrographische Mitteilungen, Vienna: 47: 89.

Royer (1936) Comptes rendu de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 202: 1346.

Gruner and McConnell (1937) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 97: 208.

McConnell (1937) American Mineralogist: 22: 977.

Hoffmann (1938) Chemie der Erde, Jena: 11: 552 (colour).

Kind (1938) Chemie der Erde, Jena: 12: 50.

McConnell (1938) American Mineralogist: 23: 1.

Volkova and Melentiev (1939) Comptes rendus de l’académie des sciences de l’U.R.S.S., n.s.: 25: 120 (REE substitution).

Bale (1940) American Journal of Roentg. Rad. Therapy: 43: 735.

McConnell and Gruner (1940) American Mineralogist: 25: 157.

Ulrich (1940) Mineralogical Abstracts: 7: 529.

Baker (1941) American Mineralogist: 26: 382.

Sahama (1941) Bull. Comm.. géol. Finlande: no. 126: 50.

Dihn and Klement (1942) Zeitschrift für Elektrochemie und angewandte physikalische Chemie, Halle a.S.: 48: 331.

Hendricks and Hill (1942) Science: 96: 255.

Beevers and McIntyre (1945) Mineralogical Magazine: 27: 254.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 1124 pp.: 879-889.

Segall, B., Ludwig, G.W., Woodbury, H.H., and Johnson, P.D. (1962) Electron spin resonance of a centre in calcium fluorophosphate Phys. Rev.: 128: 76-79.

Piper, W.W., Kravitz, L.C., and Swank, R.K. (1965) Axially symmetric paramagnetic color centres in fluorapatite. Phys. Rev.: 138: A1802-A1814.

Prener, J.S. (1967) The growth and crystallographic properties of calcium fluor- and chlorapatite. Journal of the Electrochem. Society: 114: 77-83.

Young, E.J., Mayers, A.T., Munson, E.L., and Cankln, N.M. (1969) Mineralogy and geochemistry of fluorapatite from Cerro de Mercado, Mexico. U.S. Geological Survey, Professional Paper 650-D: 84-93.

Warren, R.W. (1972) Defect centres in calcium fluorophosphate. Phys. Rev.: B 6: 4679-4689.

American Mineralogist (1990): 75: 295-304.

Fleet, M.E. and Pan, Y. (1994b) Site preference of Nd in fluorapatite [Ca10(PO4)6F2]. Journal of Solid State Chemistry: 111: 78-81.

Fleet, M.E. and Pan, Y. (1995) Site preference of rare earth elements in fluorapatite. American Mineralogist: 80: 329-335.

Fleet, M.E. and Pan, Y. (1997a) Site preference of rare earth elements in fluorapatite: binary (LREE+HREE)-substituted crystals. American Mineralogist: 82: 870-877.

Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., and Nichols, M.C. (2000) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume IV. Arsenates, Phosphates, Vanadates. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 680pp.: 189.

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