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Hydroxylapatite

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Big Photo

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:VitreousHardness:5
Member of:Apatite Subgroup > Apatite Supergroup
Name: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 "hydroxyl-" prefix for the dominant anion in the formula.
Dimorph of:Hydroxylapatite-M


Apatite Group. The hydroxyl analogue of fluorapatite and chlorapatite. The phosphate analogue of johnbaumite. The hexagonal polymorph of hydroxylapatite-M.

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:Talc-schist; in diallage-serpentine rock.

Physical Properties of Hydroxylapatite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:White, grey, yellow, green, violet, purple, red or brown
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):5
Hardness Data:Measured
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Poor/Indistinct
Poor on {0001) and on {10-10}
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.14 - 3.21 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.16 g/cm3

Crystallography of Hydroxylapatite

Crystal System:Hexagonal
Class (H-M):6/m - Dipyramidal
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)
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 {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
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

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 Subgroup > Apatite Supergroup
Other Members of Group:

- +
Carbonate-rich Fluorapatite
Ca
 
5
(PO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
3
(F,O)
Carbonate-rich Hydroxylapatite
Ca
 
5
(PO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH,O)
Chlorapatite
Ca
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
Cl
Fluorapatite
Ca
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
Fluorstrophite
SrCaSr
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
Common Associates:
TitaniteTalc
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.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
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

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.

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.

Internet Links for Hydroxylapatite

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