apatite

American  

[ap-uh-tahyt] / ˈæp əˌtaɪt /

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.

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apatite British  

/ 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

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apatite Scientific  

/ ăp′ə-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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Etymology

Origin of apatite

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

Example Sentences

Traditional dating methods usually rely on minerals like zircon or apatite found near fossils, but these minerals are not consistently available at every site.

From Science Daily • Dec. 21, 2025

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

From Science Daily • Jan. 16, 2024

Rather, her computer simulations show that the substitution of copper in the apatite did result in an unusual rearrangement of the atoms.

From New York Times • Aug. 3, 2023

Phosphorus is an essential element that occurs in the mineral apatite, which is found in trace amounts in common igneous rocks.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2017

Bournonite; apatite on muscovite; natural zircon in a spray of colors; dozens more minerals he cannot name.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr