Etymology
Apatite takes its name from the Greek word “Apatein” which means wrong, mislead, or confused, chosen by A.G Werner in 1786, professor of mineralogy at the Freiberg Academy (Germany) who upon studying this gem found, that in fact, it was a new mineral but so far had been confused with others to which it is very similar.
Geological Origin
The origin of apatite is given by hydrothermal formations, magmatic and metamorphism of sedimentary basins.
False Names
Apatite can be easily confused with gems like amblygonite, andalusite, brazilianite, beryl, quartz, titanite, topaz, and tourmaline.
Characteristics and Properties
| Mineral Type | Phosphate |
|---|---|
|
Color |
Colorless, yellow, pink, green, blue, violet |
|
Streak |
From white to yellowish gray |
|
Hardness |
5 Mohs |
|
Specific Gravity |
3.16 - 3.23 |
|
Cleavage |
Imperfect |
|
Fracture |
Conchoidal |
|
Crystal System |
Hexagonal |
|
Habit |
Pyramidal hexagonal prismatic or hexagonal prismatic with pinachoidal finish |
|
Chemical Formula |
Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH) |
|
Optical Properties |
Uniaxial (-) |
|
Transparency |
Transparent |
|
Luster |
Vitreous |
|
Refractive Index |
1.642 - 1.648 |
|
Birefringence |
0.002 a 0.006 |
|
Dispersion |
0.013 (BG), 0.010 (CF) |
|
Pleochroism |
Green: yellow, green | Blue: blue, yellow |
|
Fluorescence |
Yellow: from lilac to pink |
Deposits
Some of the main deposits are located in Burma, Mexico, Brazil, India, Madagascar and Spain. In Colombia we can highlight the production of pink apatite.
Uses
Apatite is used as fertilizer when it appears rich in phosphate and in large quantities.
It is recommended to use apatite to help achieve deep meditation and relating to health it is believed to relieve throat infections, to fight insomnia, and is recommended for people suffering from arthritis.
In the esoteric area, apatite is recognized as the stone of sincerity and is used as an amulet to seal a sincere friendship.
Opens the chakras (the chakra system — Yoga) of the head and spleen. It has an affinity with the signs of Taurus, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra and Pisces.
