Consumer Information

What color is it?: Apatite will be generally be a variety of intense greens or yellows.

What is the story behind this gemstone?: Being a fairly soft stone, apatite is rarely used for rings. But because of its unusual intense green color it is becoming popular for earrings and pendants.

Can I wear it everyday?: For earrings and pendants, yes. But it is rather soft for rings.

Is it expensive?: No. A nice apatite will generally cost about the same as a nice amethyst. Around $50.00 per carat.

Is it a birthstone?: None.

What do I need to know before going shopping?: Just remember that the more intense the color, this higher the cost of the apatite. The best stones will be almost a neon greenish blue.

General Information

Source: Brazil, Sri Lanka, India, and other sources

Chemical: Ca5 (PO4)3(FClOH)

Formation: In igneous rocks mostly, although it can also be found in metamorphic rocks.

Crystal System: Hexagonal

Unusual Properties: None.

Gemological Information

RI: 1.632 - 1.646

Birefringence: .004

Optic Character: U-

Specific Gravity: 3.20 + -

Hardness: 5

Transparency: TP

Special Identifying Properties and Tests: None

Synthetics: None

Imitations: None