Mineral Species: Apatite
Chemical Formula: Ca5(PO4)3(OH,F,Cl)
Chemical Name: Calcium Fluoro Chloro Hydroxy Phosphate
Mineral Class: Phosphate
Mineral Notes: Apatite can actually be considered as three different minerals containing Calcium Phosphate in combination with Fluorine, Chlorine or the Hydroxyl group. All three can substitute equally in the crystal lattice and all are usually present in every specimen although some are close to 100% of one or the other. The name comes from the Greek word meaning to decieve in reference to Apatite's similarity to other more valuable minerals such as Beryl.
Description: Twinned, brown Apatite crystals. The faces are lustrous and quite gemmy. The larger crystal has an excellent end termination. The smaller is partly obscured by matrix material which has not been removed, but could be.
