Natural Gemstones: Reference Facts
Apatite
Apatite occurs in many shades of yellow, green, blue, pink, purple, violet, and colorless as well as in cat's-eye form. Apatite is commonly cut for collectors. However, it has become popular because some of the neon bluish green to greenish blue colors resemble those of the highly prized Paraiba tourmaline. High-quality green apatite resembles emerald in its pleasant color, but green apatite is more affordable and cleaner with fewer visible inclusions. Most apatite stones are small and not eye clean. Eye clean stone over 5 carats is rare, therefore prices are negotiable. Apatite is a sensitive gemstone requiring protective setting, so it is a better choice for earrings or a pendant than for a ring which will receive a lot of wear.
Apatite is found in Burma (Myanmar), Sri Lanka, Russia, Sweden, Canada, Brazil, Spain, Mexico, and East Africa. Spanish apatite is often called asparagus stone due to its yellowish green color.
| Apatite Known Facts
|
| Color |
Yellow, Green, Blue, Pink, Purple, Violet, Colorless |
| Clarity
|
No clarity type classification. Many stones, especially over 5 carats, are not eye clean.
|
| Crystal Structure
|
Hexagonal
|
| Chemical Composition
|
Ca(F,Cl)Ca4(PO4)3 – Calcium phosphate |
| Luster
|
Vitreous
|
| Optic Character
|
Doubly Refractive
|
| Durability
|
Fair
|
| Specific Gravity(SG)
|
3.2
|
| Refractive Index(RI)
|
1.634-1.638
|
| Birefringence
|
0.003
|
| Hardness
|
5-5.5
|
| Occurrence
|
Burma (Myanmar), Sri Lanka, Russia, Sweden, Canada, Brazil, Spain, Mexico, East Africa |
|
|
