APATITE | Apatite is a closely related mineral group, that forms as prismatic or tabular crystals, and in massive, compact and granular habits. Apatite is usually green in colour, but may be white, colourless, yellow, bluish, reddish, brown, grey, or purple. It is transparent to translucent, and has a vitreous to subresinous lustre. It forms in igneous rocks, and in metamorphosed limestones. It is an abundant mineral, but most gem-quality material is associated with pegmatites.* It is found in Burma, Sri Lanka, Russia, Canada, East Africa, Sweden, Spain and Mexico. * An igneous rock formed as residual liquids from magma cool, often forming large crystals. | |
Hardness: 5 Other characteristics (and pictures!)
Apatite on matrix, Murcia, Spain
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