Apatite

Object/Artifact

-

Crater Rock Museum

Name/Title

Apatite

Entry/Object ID

78.63.335

Description

Crystal System: Monoclinic System Description: Common Name: Apatite Group Name: Phosphates Location: Unknown Chemistry: Ca5(PO4)3(OH,F,Cl), Description: This specimen is a geode split in half containing a grouping of apatite crystals inside of it. The crystals are dull yellow. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Color is typically green but also yellow, blue, reddish brown and purple. • Luster is vitreous to greasy and gumdrop. • Transparency: Crystals are transparent to translucent. • Crystal System is hexagonal; 6/m • Crystal Habits include the typical hexagonal prism with the hexagonal pyramid or a pinacoid or both as a termination. Also accicular, granular, reniform and massive. A cryptocrystalline variety is called collophane and can make up a rock type called phosphorite and also can replace fossil fragments. • Cleavage is indistinct in one basal direction. • Fracture is conchoidal. • Hardness is 5. • Specific Gravity is 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" look similar to the look of previously sucked on hard candy. • Notable Occurrences include Durango, Mexico; Bancroft, Ontario; Germany and Russia. • Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, color, hardness and look. Fracture: uneven Hardness: 2 Gypsum Luster: Vitreous Specific Gravity: 2.8 Streak: white

Collection

Suomynona Collection

Acquisition

Accession

78.63

Source or Donor

Delmar Smith Crystal Collection

Acquisition Method

Donation

Dimensions

Height

2-7/8 in

Width

2-1/2 in

Length

3 in

Dimension Notes

Dimension taken at widest points

Location

Location

Shelf

Top

Cabinet

Case# 20

Wall

West

Building

Freida Smith Hall

Category

Permanent