
General Information:

Chemical Formula:
Ca5(PO4,CO3)3(OH)

Composition:
(Molecular Weight = 484.83 gm)
Calcium 41.33 %
CaPhosphorus 15.97 %
P Hydrogen 0.21 %
H Carbon 1.24 %
C Oxygen 41.25 %
O 
Empirical Formula:
Ca5(PO4)2.5(CO3)0.5(OH)

Environment:
Sedimentary and skarn rocks. Common as bones and teeth in mammals.

Locality:
Magnet Cove, Arkansas, USA.

Name Origin:
Named as the carbonate and hydroxyl end-member and from the Greek apatao - "I am misleading."
Physical Properties:

Color:
colorless or white.

Diaphaniety:
Transparent

Habits:
Earthy - Dull, clay-like texture with no visible crystalline affinities, (e.g. howlite)., Pulverulent - Forms a loose, poorly-coherent powdery mass., Nodular - Tuberose forms having i rregular protuberances over the surface.

Hardness:
5 - Apatite

Luminescence:
Phosphorescent fluorescent.

Luster:
Vitreous - Resinous
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