The facts
What apatite actually is
The species behind apatite is apatite, Ca₅(PO₄)₃(F,Cl,OH); it forms in the hexagonal system.
Manganese, rare earths; the neon blue-green is from copper-free colour centres is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.628–1.650 and a specific gravity of about 3.16–3.23, with indistinct cleavage.
Where apatite comes from
Commercial material comes from Madagascar, Brazil, Myanmar and Mexico.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How apatite is treated
Heating is used on some material.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What apatite is confused with
Watch for Paraíba tourmaline, Indicolite and Blue zircon — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.628–1.650 and specific gravity 3.16–3.23 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What apatite is used for
The trades that buy apatite are mineral collecting and jewellery. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the specimen or by the carat.
Durability and care
Apatite is 5 on the Mohs scale, with indistinct cleavage.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What apatite costs
Expect roughly $10–200/ct, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is apatite treated, and how?
Heating is used on some material.
Where does apatite come from?
Madagascar, Brazil, Myanmar and Mexico. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is apatite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 5 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does apatite cost?
Indicatively $10–200/ct. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is apatite confused with?
Most often Paraíba tourmaline, Indicolite and Blue zircon. A refractive index of 1.628–1.650 and a specific gravity near 3.16–3.23 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for apatite?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about apatite