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Faceted Apatite
Apatite may be regarded as a single mineral, but is usually divided into three more minerals:
Fluorapatite, Chlorapatite, and Hydroxylapatite. Since it is hard to distinguish
between these minerals, and since they may partially replace each other, a distinction between them is rarely made, and they
are simply called "Apatite". However, most Apatite is Fluorapatite, the most common member by far.
Apatite is the most
common phosphate mineral, and is the main source of the phosphorus required by plants. The bones and teeth of most animals,
including humans, are of the same material as Apatite.
Apatite is named from the
Greek word apate, which means "deceit", since Apatite has a similar appearance to so many minerals.
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FantasTic color neon on this blue/green apatite 5.5x7 oval, 1.06cts., from untreated African rough. There are some
inclusions in the center of this stone, but I honestly think it enhances the stone in a way, by making it a lot more sparkly
than normal.
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