General Information:
Chemical Formula:
Ca5(PO4,CO3)3F
Composition:
(Molecular Weight = 486.82 gm)
Calcium 41.16 % Ca
Phosphorus 15.91 % P
Carbon 1.23 % C
Oxygen 37.79 % O
Fluorine 3.90 % F
Empirical Formula:
Ca5(PO4)2.5(CO3)0.5F
Environment:
Sedimentary and skarn rocks.
Locality:
Wheal Franco, Devonshire, England.
Name Origin:
Named as the carbonate and fluorine end-member and from the Greek apatao - "I am misleading."
Physical Properties:
Color:
colorless or whitish.
Density:
3.12
Diaphaniety:
Transparent to Translucent
Habits:
Massive - Uniformly indistinguishable crystals forming large masses., Earthy - Dull, clay-like texture with no visible crystalline affinities, (e.g. howlite)., Pulverulent - Forms a l oose, poorly-coherent powdery mass.
Hardness:
5 - Apatite
Luster:
Vitreous - Resinous
Streak:
white
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