Apatite : The yummiest of all blue gems
Ranked #10,086 in Fashion & Beauty, #162,341 overall
Mind blowing blue Apatite
Apatite, a stone seldom found in jewelry stores and virtually unknown to the general public, is beloved by collectors for its many different colors and forms. Only with the recent availability of the neon blue-green variety from Madagascar, has its jewelry use increased. Care for this stone is similar to that given opals, it is heat and shock sensitive, so steamers and ultrasonic cleaners must be avoided.
Neon Green Apatite
Apatite in my opinion is one of the hardest gems to photograph. I am convinced that digital cameras just can't comprehend the depth of blue in these gems. I often have to take dozens to pictures just to get one that looks even half way good.
Neon Blue Apatite
Because of it's heat and shock sensitivity Apatite is one of the few gems on the market today that has absolutely no heat treatment or chemical enhancements to improve the look of the gem.
An interesting thing about the name Apatite is that apatite is the mineral that makes up the teeth in all vertebrate animals as well as their bones. The name Apatite comes from a Greek word meaning to deceive. This is due to it's similarity to other more valuable minerals such as olivine, peridot and beryl.
Apatite is actually three different minerals depending on the predominance of fluorine, chlorine or the hydroxyl group. These ions can be freely substituted in the crystal lattice and all three are usually present in every specimen. However some specimens can be made up of nearly 100% of just one of these minerals. These minerals are Fluorapatite, Chlorapatite and Hydroxylapatite. The three are usually considered together due to the difficulty in distinguishing them in hand samples using ordinary methods.
Apatite is widely distributed in all rock types; igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. But mostly usually just small disseminated grains or cryptocrystalline fragments. Large well-formed crystals can be found in certain metamorphic rocks.
Apatite Crystals
Very gemmy crystals of Apatite can be cut as gems but the softness of Apatite prevents wide distribution or acceptance of Apatite as a gemstone.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
- Class: Phosphates
- Group: Apatit
- Uses: as a source of phosphorous to be used in fertilizer, rarely as a gemstone and as a mineral specimen.
- Color: typically green but also yellow, blue, reddish brown and purple.
- Luster: vitreous to greasy and gumdrop.
- Transparency: Crystals are transparent to translucent.
- Crystal System: hexagonal; 6/m
- Crystal Habits: include the typical hexagonal prism with the hexagonal pyramid or a pinacoid or both as a termination.
- Cleavage: indistinct in one basal direction.
- Fracture is conchoidal.
- Hardness is 5.
- Specific Gravity: approximately 3.1 - 3.2 (average for translucent minerals)
- Streak is white.
- Associated Minerals are hornblende, micas, nepheline and calcite.
- Other Characteristics: An unusual "partially dissolved" looks like sucked on hard candy. ( see crystasl pics )
- Notable Occurrences include Durango, Mexico; Bancroft, Ontario; Germany, Russia. and Madagascar.
- Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, color, hardness and look.
Reddish Orange Apatite Crystals
Like these Gems?
Now is your chance!
More Great gems from The Carat Farm
Great must have items for the gem lover
Guestbook
Please sign in.
Please tell us what you think. If you like this lens, please vote for it. If you really, really like it please click Digg This
Thanks!
-
-
Tipi
Feb 16, 2011 @ 9:34 pm | delete
- Now I'm wondering if my sister's ring is a neon blue apatite, it sure is striking! She got it at an antique shop and just loves it.
-
-
-
mscaramelle
Feb 11, 2011 @ 6:33 pm | delete
- Hi Lady Gotrocks......my stone is Turquoise, but the stones at the top of the page look just like Turquoise, is Apatite just another name for it? Beautiful!
-
-
-
Lady_Gotrocks
Feb 11, 2011 @ 8:33 pm | delete
- No, Apatite is not related t Turquoise at all. Different gem family. Hmmmm maybe I sould do a Turquoise lens
-
-
-
findingwhimsy
Feb 8, 2011 @ 1:43 pm | delete
- Apatite is another of my favorites! Love that color!
-
-
-
Jhangora
Feb 6, 2011 @ 9:52 am | delete
- Apatite looks real beautiful.
-
- Load More
Apatite gems and Jewelry for sale
by Lady_Gotrocks
Hi, I'm Lady Gotrocks!
- 86 featured lenses
- Winner of 18 trophies!
- Top lens » 8 Reasons why you must have your cat spayed or neutered.
Explore related pages
- Gems and Jewels Gems and Jewels
- Scapolite: Guide to a rare and little known gemstone Scapolite: Guide to a rare and little known gemstone
- Citrine Buying Guide: a comprehensive guide on Citrine gems Citrine Buying Guide: a comprehensive guide on Citrine gems
- Jewelry Terms Glossary A-Z Jewelry Terms Glossary A-Z
- Padparadscha Sapphires Padparadscha Sapphires
- Tourmaline gemstones, history and buying guide Tourmaline gemstones, history and buying guide
