Apatite

Q: What is Apatite?

Apatite is a group of calcium phosphate minerals encompassing a wide spectrum of gem colors including vivid neon blue, teal, green, yellow, and violet, making it one of the most colorful gem species. Found worldwide in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, the finest gem material comes from M

Q: What is the hardness of Apatite?

Apatite has a Mohs hardness of 5.0, making it moderate for use in jewelry.

Q: How much does Apatite cost?

Apatite falls into the Budget (< $50/ct) price range. Prices vary based on color, clarity, cut, and origin.

Q: What is the crystal system of Apatite?

Apatite belongs to the Hexagonal crystal system.

A group of calcium phosphate minerals, apatite produces one of the widest color ranges of any gem species, spanning neon blue, teal, green, yellow, and violet. It occurs worldwide in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, with the finest gem material coming from Myanmar, Brazil, Mexico, and Madagascar. The mineral crystallizes in the hexagonal system and is comparatively soft at 5.0 on the Mohs scale, which keeps this budget-tier semi-precious stone largely to protected settings and collector pieces. Apatite also carries a biological distinction: the same mineral forms the inorganic component of teeth and bone in vertebrate animals.

Physical & Optical Properties

Category Semi-Precious Gems

Mohs Hardness 5.0

Specific Gravity 3.16 – 3.23

Refractive Index 1.628 – 1.651

Crystal System Hexagonal

Luster Vitreous

Cleavage Indistinct

Fracture Conchoidal

Color various

Birefringence 0.002

Dispersion 0.013

Pleochroism Blue - strong dichroism: colorless-(yellowish) - blue; Yellow - weak: greenish-yellow - golden-yellow; Green - weak: yellow - green - blue-green

Mohs Hardness

Mohs hardness of Apatite shown against the ten reference minerals, from talc (1) to diamond (10).

Mohs	Reference mineral	Apatite
1	Talc
2	Gypsum
3	Calcite
4	Fluorite
5	Apatite	●
6	Orthoclase
7	Quartz
8	Topaz
9	Corundum
10	Diamond

Crystal System

Value & Market

Price Tier Budget (< $50/ct)

Where to Buy Apatite

Blue Nile Fine jewelry retailer

James Allen Gemstone jewelry

Brilliant Earth Ethically sourced gems

Amazon Wide selection

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Treatments

5Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references 3.16 to 3.23Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references BrittleWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) IndistinctWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references ConchoidalArthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009) Highly heat sensitiveArthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009) 1.628 to 1.651Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references Uniaxial/-Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references 0.002 to 0.008Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references Blue - strong dichroism: colorless-(yellowish) - blue; Yellow - weak: greenish-yellow - golden-yellow; Green - weak: yellow - green - blue-greenHerve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references 0.013Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references YesUlrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004) Colourless, yellow, green, blue, violetUlrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references Pink, F vacancy with a trapped electron. Dark blue, O2- → Mn5+ charge transferW. William Hanneman, Pragmatic Spectroscopy For Gemologists (2011) TransparentUlrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references VitreousArthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009) Yellow: purplish pink; green: inert to greenish yellow; blue: blueHerve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references Violet: common light purpleHerve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references Violet: common greenish-yellowHerve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references HexagonalHerve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references Columnar, thick tabularWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references Gem apatite usually occurring in pegmatites, hydrothermal veins or alluvially.Michael O?Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) Fluorapatite - Locality: Akjailau, KazakstanFluorapatite - Locality: tanazniaFluorapatite - Locality: TanazniaFluorapatite - Locality: Tanzania Healing cracks, hollow tubes - Gemmological Tables, Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, 2004, p 16 Apatite information at mindat.org Brazil  Koivula et al. (1993) India  S. Fernandes (1999) Kenya  Barot et al. (1995) Madagascar  Pezzotta (1999) Myanmar  [var: Fluorapatite] Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok [var: Fluorapatite] Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok [var: Fluorapatite] Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok Namibia  Norway  [var: Moroxite] Precious Stones & Gems, Edwin Streeter, 1898 Russia  Y. Shelementiev (1999) South Africa  Gemstones, A.Thomas, 2009, p.83 Gemstones, A.Thomas, 2009, p.83 Sri Lanka  Milisenda and Henn (1999) Milisenda and Henn (1999)

About Apatite

Apatite is a group of calcium phosphate minerals encompassing a wide spectrum of gem colors including vivid neon blue, teal, green, yellow, and violet, making it one of the most colorful gem species. Found worldwide in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, the finest gem material comes from Myanmar, Brazil, Mexico, and Madagascar. Notably, apatite is the mineral that makes up the inorganic component of teeth and bones in vertebrate animals.

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