apatite

enUK

ap·a·tite

A0360700 (ăp′ə-tīt′)n.1. Any of a group of natural, variously colored calcium phosphate minerals containing fluorine, chlorine, or hydroxyl. These compounds form hexagonal crystals and are components of bones and teeth, are a source of phosphorus for plants, and are used in the manufacture of fertilizers.2. See fluorapatite.

[From Greek apatē, deceit (from its often being mistaken for other minerals).]

apatite

(ˈæpəˌtaɪt) n (Minerals) a pale green to purple mineral, found in igneous rocks and metamorphosed limestones. It is used in the manufacture of phosphorus, phosphates, and fertilizers. Composition: calcium fluorophosphate or calcium chlorophosphate. General formula: Ca5(PO4,CO3)3(F,OH,Cl). Crystal structure: hexagonal[C19: from German Apatit, from Greek apatē deceit; from its misleading similarity to other minerals]

ap•a•tite

(ˈæp əˌtaɪt)

n. a common mineral, calcium fluorophosphate, Ca₅FP₃O₁₂, occurring in individual crystals and in masses and varying in color, formerly used in the manufacture of phosphate fertilizers. [1795–1805; < Greek apát(ē) trickery, fraud, deceit + -ite¹]

ap·a·tite

(ăp′ə-tīt′) A usually green, transparent mineral consisting mainly of calcium phosphate. Apatite occurs as hexagonal crystals in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, and is used as a source of phosphate for making fertilizers. It is the mineral used to represent a hardness of 5 on the Mohs scale.

Thesaurus

Noun

apatite - a common complex mineral consisting of calcium fluoride phosphate or calcium chloride phosphate; a source of phosphorusatomic number 15, P, phosphorus - a multivalent nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs commonly in inorganic phosphate rocks and as organic phosphates in all living cells; is highly reactive and occurs in several allotropic formsatomic number 65, Tb, terbium - a metallic element of the rare earth group; used in lasers; occurs in apatite and monazite and xenotime and ytterbiteatomic number 69, thulium, Tm - a soft silvery metallic element of the rare earth group; isotope 170 emits X-rays and is used in small portable X-ray machines; it occurs in monazite and apatite and xenotimemineral - solid homogeneous inorganic substances occurring in nature having a definite chemical compositionfluorapatite - a form of apatite in which fluorine predominates over chlorine

Translations

апатит

apatite

enUK

apatite

(ăp`ətīt), mineral, a phosphate of calcium containing chlorine or fluorine, or both, that is transparent to opaque in shades of green, brown, yellow, white, red, and purple. Apatite is a minor constituent in igneous and metamorphic rocks. Yellow-green asparagus stone and blue-green manganapatite are used in jewelry. Apatite is mined to make phosphatic fertilizers and is used in fission track dating of rocks (see datingdating,
the determination of the age of an object, of a natural phenomenon, or of a series of events. There are two basic types of dating methods, relative and absolute.
..... Click the link for more information. ). Commercial deposits are mined in Idaho, Tennessee, and Wyoming, and in N Africa and Russia.

Apatite

a mineral of the calcium phosphate group containing a variable quantity of fluorine and chlorine. The chemical formula of apatite is 3Ca₃ (PO₄) 2·Ca(F, Cl)₂. As secondary admixtures apatite sometimes contains up to 10 percent oxides of manganese, strontium, or rare earth elements; less than 1 percent sodium, potassium, or barium frequently replaces part of the calcium. In addition to F^- and Cl^-, (OH)^-, O^2-, and CO₃^2-, are also present. Fluor-, chlor-, hydroxyl-, carbonate-, and oxy-apatite have been isolated, as have been manganapatite, strontium apatite, and rare earth apatite (“belovit”). The theoretical composition P₂O₅ in fluorapatite and chlorapatite is 42.3 percent and 41.1 percent respectively. Apatite crystallizes in a hexagonal system. Crystals are for the most part hexahedral, prismatic, and elongated to the point of being needlelike; they are rarely tabular. Apatite is also found in the form of cryptocrystalline varieties (col-lophanite). The color and other physical and optical properties change within the bounds of the series of fluor-, chlor-, and hydroxylapatite as well as according to the composition of the admixtures of elements. The green color of apatite is caused by the presence of iron, its blue color by manganese, and its brown and red color by a finely dispersed admixture of hematite. Its cleavage is incomplete; its luster is vitreous and resinous; its hardness on the mineralogical scale is 5; and its density ranges from 3,160 to 3,200 kg/m³ but reaches 3,800–4,200 kg/m³ in varieties enriched with strontium and the rare earths. The melting point is 1660°C for fluorapatite and 1530°C for chlorapatite.

Apatite is widely distributed in rocks and is formed by various geological processes. Large apatite ore accumulations are confined to massive alkaline rocks (nepheline syenites). A high apatite content has also been established in carbonatites and in certain iron ore deposits formed at high temperatures. In addition, apatite is found in granite, pegmatites, quartz veins, crystalline schists. In sedimentary rocks, minerals of the apatite group occur mainly in the form of phosphorites and partly in excavated bones. Because of its relative chemical stability, apatite is found in placers.

Most of the apatite which is mined is utilized in the manufacture of phosphorous fertilizers. In the chemical industry apatite yields phosphoric acid, various salts, phosphorus, and phosphorous compounds. Apatite is also used in ferrous and nonferrous metallurgy and in the ceramic and glass industries.

The world’s largest deposit of apatite is found in the USSR on the Kola Peninsula. Abroad, the largest deposits of apatite are found in the iron ore fields of Sweden (Kierunavaara, Luossavaara) and in the carbonatóte fields of central and eastern Africa.

REFERENCES

Bok, I. I. Agronomicheskie rudy, 2nd ed. Alma-Ata, 1965.
Deer, W. A., R. A. Howie, and J. Zussman. Porodoobrazuiushchie mineraly, vol. 5. Moscow, 1966. (Translated from English.)

A. M. PORTNOV

apatite

[′ap·ə‚tīt] (mineralogy) A group of phosphate minerals that includes 10 mineral species and has the general formula X₅(YO₄)₃Z, where X is usually Ca²⁺or Pb³⁺, Y is P⁵⁺or As⁵⁺, and Z is F^-, Cl^-, or OH^-.

apatite

ap·a·tite

apatite

ap•a•tite

ap·a·tite

apatite

apatite

Apatite

REFERENCES

apatite

apatite

ap·a·tite

ap·a·tite

ap·a·tite

apatite

Words related to apatite

noun a common complex mineral consisting of calcium fluoride phosphate or calcium chloride phosphate

Related Words