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apatite

[ ap-uh-tahyt ]

noun

  1. a common mineral, calcium fluorophosphate, Ca 5 FP 3 O 12 , occurring in individual crystals and in masses and varying in color, formerly used in the manufacture of phosphate fertilizers.


apatite

/ ˈæpəˌtaɪt /

noun

  1. 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: Ca 5 (PO 4 ,CO 3 ) 3 (F,OH,Cl). Crystal structure: hexagonal
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

apatite

/ ăpə-tīt′ /

  1. Any of several usually green, transparent, hexagonal minerals consisting of calcium phosphate with either fluorine, hydroxyl, chlorine, or carbonate. Apatite occurs in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, and is used as a source of phosphate for making fertilizers. Chemical formula: Ca 5 (PO 4 CO 3 ) 3 (F,OH,Cl).
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Word History and Origins

Origin of apatite1

1795–1805; < Greek apát ( ē ) trickery, fraud, deceit + -ite 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of apatite1

C19: from German Apatit, from Greek apatē deceit; from its misleading similarity to other minerals
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Example Sentences

This work was focused primarily on the mineral apatite, which contains volatile elements in its mineral structure.

Indeed, the resistance of the material, made of the mineral apatite with some of the lead atoms replaced by copper, is about 100 times higher than pure copper and other good conducting metals.

A paper posted by researchers in South Korea a few days ago claims that modifying the mineral apatite produces a superconductor that works at ordinary temperatures and pressures.

The researchers are inspecting a blue crystal of the mineral apatite for lines left by the decay of uranium, but it's a long shot.

He fished out bits of quartz, feldspar and apatite — a phosphate mineral like that found in bones and teeth.

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