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Hydroxylapatite

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Sapo mine, Ferruginha, Conselheiro Pena, Doce valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil
© Rob Lavinsky

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Formula:
Ca
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
System:HexagonalColour:White, grey, yellow, ...
Lustre:Sub-Vitreous, Resinous, Waxy, Greasy, EarthyHardness:5
Member of:Apatite Group > Apatite Supergroup
Name:Named hydro-apatite in 1856 by Augustin Alexis Damour from the Greek απατείν ("apatein"), "to deceive" or "to be misleading", as Apatite was often confused with other minerals (e.g. Beryl, Milarite), plus the "hydro-" prefix for the water-rich (as hydroxyl) nature of the mineral. Waldemar Schaller changed the name slightly to hydroxyl-apatite in 1912 and the one-word, hydroxylapatit, was introduced by Burri, Jakob, Parker, and Hugo Strunz in 1935. Additional names applied to this mineral include: pyroclasite, ornithite, monite, etc. Much "carbonate-apatite" is hydroxylapatite, including some dahllite, collophane, etc.


Apatite Group. The hydroxyl analogue of fluorapatite and chlorapatite. The phosphate analogue of johnbaumite.

Classification of Hydroxylapatite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/B.39-30
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:41.8.1.3

41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
8 : A5(XO4)3Zq
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.4.2

19 : Phosphates
4 : Phosphates of Ca
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Occurrences of Hydroxylapatite

Geological Setting:Abundant in sedimentary phosphate beds. Occasionally found in Talc-schist; in diallage-serpentine rock. May be be found in late-stage phosphate mineralization in granite pegmatites,

Physical Properties of Hydroxylapatite

Lustre:Sub-Vitreous, Resinous, Waxy, Greasy, Earthy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent, Opaque
Colour:White, grey, yellow, green, violet, purple, red or brown
Comment:Ideally white; other colors usually due to staining
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):5
Hardness Data:Measured
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Poor/Indistinct
Poor on {0001) and on {1010}
Fracture:Conchoidal, Sub-Conchoidal, Fibrous
Density (measured):3.10 - 3.21 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.16 g/cm3
Comment:Density may be lower when earthy in texture.

Crystallography of Hydroxylapatite

Crystal System:Hexagonal
Class (H-M):6/m - Dipyramidal
Space Group:P63/m
Space Group Setting:P63/m
Cell Parameters:a = 9.41Å, c = 6.88Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.731
Unit Cell Volume:V 527.59 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. Very sharp crystals are uncommon and terminations are frequently rounded. Massive, coarse granular to compact.
Twinning:Rare contact twins on {1121}. Twin plane {10_13} rare. Also twinning reported on {1010} and {11_23}.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
2.814 (100)
2.778 (60)
2.720 (60)
3.44 (40)
1.841 (40)
1.943 (30)
2.631 (25)
Comments:synthetic (ICDD 9-432)

Optical Data of Hydroxylapatite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.651 nε = 1.644
Birefringence:0.007
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.007

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Optical Extinction:Parallel
Pleochroism:Non-pleochroic

Chemical Properties of Hydroxylapatite

Formula:
Ca
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
Essential elements:Ca, H, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Ca, H, O, P

Relationship of Hydroxylapatite to other Species

Member of:Apatite Group > Apatite Supergroup
Other Members of Group:

- +
Alforsite
Ba
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
Cl
Carbonate-rich Fluorapatite
Ca
 
5
(PO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
3
(F,O)
Chlorapatite
Ca
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
Cl
Fluorapatite
Ca
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
Hydroxylapatite-M
Ca
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
OH
Johnbaumite
Ca
 
5
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
OH
Johnbaumite-M
Ca
 
5
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
OH
Mimetite
Pb
 
5
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
Cl
Mimetite-2M
Mimetite-M
Pb
 
5
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
Cl
Miyahisaite
(Sr,Ca)
 
2
Ba
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
Pyromorphite
Pb
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
Cl
Stronadelphite
Sr
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
Svabite
Ca
 
5
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
F
Turneaureite
Ca
 
5
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
Cl
Vanadinite
Pb
 
5
(VO
 
4
)
 
3
Cl
Common Associates:
TitaniteTalcSmectite GroupSideriteQuartz
Kaolinite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.BN.05Alforsite
Ba
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
Cl
8.BN.05Belovite-(Ce)
NaCeSr
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
8.BN.05Carbonate-rich Fluorapatite
Ca
 
5
(PO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
3
(F,O)
8.BN.05Carbonate-rich Hydroxylapatite
Ca
 
5
(PO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH,O)
8.BN.05Chlorapatite
Ca
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
Cl
8.BN.05Mimetite-M
Pb
 
5
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
Cl
8.BN.05Johnbaumite-M
Ca
 
5
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
OH
8.BN.05Fluorapatite
Ca
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
8.BN.05Hedyphane
Pb
 
3
Ca
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
Cl
8.BN.05Johnbaumite
Ca
 
5
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
OH
8.BN.05Mimetite
Pb
 
5
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
Cl
8.BN.05Morelandite
Ca
 
2
Ba
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
Cl
8.BN.05Pyromorphite
Pb
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
Cl
8.BN.05Fluorstrophite
SrCaSr
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
8.BN.05Svabite
Ca
 
5
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
F
8.BN.05Turneaureite
Ca
 
5
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
Cl
8.BN.05Vanadinite
Pb
 
5
(VO
 
4
)
 
3
Cl
8.BN.05Belovite-(La)
NaLaSr
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
8.BN.05Deloneite
(Na
 
0.5
REE
 
0.25
Ca
 
0.25
)(Ca
 
0.75
REE
 
0.25
)Sr
 
1.5
(CaNa
 
0.25
REE
 
0.25
)(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
 
0.5
(OH)
 
0.5
8.BN.05Fluorcaphite
SrCaCa
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
8.BN.05Kuannersuite-(Ce)
NaCeBa
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
 
0.5
Cl
 
0.5
8.BN.05Hydroxylapatite-M
Ca
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
OH
8.BN.05Phosphohedyphane
Ca
 
2
Pb
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
Cl
8.BN.05Stronadelphite
Sr
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
8.BN.05Fluorphosphohedyphane
Ca
 
2
Pb
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
8.BN.05Miyahisaite
(Sr,Ca)
 
2
Ba
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
8.BN.10Arctite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
19.4.1Monetite
Ca(HPO
 
4
)
19.4.3Brushite
Ca(HPO
 
4
) · 2H
 
2
O
19.4.4Isoclasite
Ca
 
2
(PO
 
4
)(OH) · 2H
 
2
O
19.4.5Buchwaldite
NaCa(PO
 
4
)
19.4.6Canaphite
Na
 
2
Ca(P
 
2
O
 
7
) · 4H
 
2
O
19.4.7Mundrabillaite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Ca(HPO
 
4
)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
19.4.8Whitlockite
Ca
 
9
Mg(PO
 
4
)
 
6
(HPO
 
4
)
19.4.9Brianite
Na
 
2
CaMg(PO
 
4
)
 
2
19.4.10Petersite-(Y)
(Y,Ce,Nd)Cu
 
6
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O

Other Names for Hydroxylapatite

Synonyms:
Apatite-(CaOH)Fluor-hydroxylapatiteHydro-apatiteHydroxyapatiteMonite
Pyroclasite
Other Languages:
German:Hydroxyapatit
Hydroxylapatit
Pyroklasit
Norwegian (Bokmål):Hydroksylapatitt
Russian:Гидроксилапатит
Апатит-(CaOH)
Simplified Chinese:羟磷灰石
Spanish:Hydroxyapatita
Hydroxylapatita
Varieties:
Alkali-oxyapatiteCarbonate-fluorhydroxyapatiteCarbonate-rich HydroxylapatiteManganese-bearing Apatite-(CaOH)Ornithite

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:Not usually fluorescent.
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:Ore of phosphorus.

References for Hydroxylapatite

Reference List:

- +
Shepard (1856) American Journal of Science: 22: 96 (as Pyroclasite).

Shepard (1882) American Journal of Science: 23: 400 (as Monite).

Schaller (1912) USGS Bull. 509: 89 (as Hydroxyapatite).

Bianchi (1919) Atti soc. ital. soc. Nat.: 458: 306.

Burri, Jakob, Parker, and Strunz (1935) Schweizerische mineralogische und petrographische Mitteilungen, Frauenfeld: 15: 327 (as Hydroxylapatit).

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

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

Mitchell, Faust, Hendricks, and Reynolds (1943) American Mineralogist: 28: 356.

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.

Mengeot, M., Bartram, R.H., and Gilliam, O.R. (1975) Paramagnetic hole-like defect in irradiated calcium hydroxyapatite single crystals. Phys. Rev.: B11: 4110-4124.

American Mineralogist (1989): 74: 87.

Nature: 204: 1050-1052.

Elliott, J. C. (1994): Structure and chemistry of the apatites and other calcium orthophosphates. Elservier, Amsterdam, 389 pp.

Fleet, M.E., Liu, X., and Pan, Y. (2000) Site preference of rare earth elements in hydroxyapatite [Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2]. Journal of Solid State Chemistry: 149: 391-398.

Young J. Lee, Peter W. Stephens, Yuanzhi Tang, Wei Li, Brian L. Phillips, John B. Parise, and Richard J. Reeder (2009): Arsenate substitution in hydroxylapatite: Structural characterization of the Ca5(PxAs1–xO4)3OH solid solution. American Mineralogist 94, 666-675.

J. D. Pasteris, C. H. Yoder, M. P. Sternlieb, S. Liu (2012): Effect of carbonate incorporation on the hydroxyl content of hydroxylapatite. Mineralogical Magazine, 76, 2741-2759.

Internet Links for Hydroxylapatite

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    Locality Updated: Catalão No. 2 mine, Ouvidor, Catalão I Carbonatite Complex, Goiás, BrazilFrom David Von Bargen, 24th May 2013 18:12:28