Apatite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

What is Apatite?

The apatite mineral group occurs abundantly throughout the world. In fact, bones and teeth consist mainly of a variety known as hydroxylapatite. As collophane, a massive cryptocrystalline variety that occurs in some localities as large beds, apatite also serves as the most abundant phosphorus-bearing mineral.

Most of the gemstones referred to as apatite are of the commonest variety, fluorapatite. Other gem-quality apatites include the aforementioned hydroxylapatite as well as carbonate-rich apatite, mimetite, moroxite, vanadinite, wilkeite, and the rare chlorapatite.

Lazurapatite, a mixture of lapis lazuli and apatite, occurs in Siberia.

Strictly speaking mineralogically, the term "apatite" refers to the mineral group only. Individual varieties should be referred to by their specific names. However, you'll frequently find many gemstones described and sold as just "apatites," without further classification.

Does Apatite Make a Good Jewelry Stone?

Prior to the discovery of the now coveted neon blue-green apatites in Madagascar, these colorful but little-known gemstones seldom found their way into jewelry collections. Nevertheless, mineral collectors prized them not only for their colors but also their beautiful fluorescence.

The green and colorless zones of this fluorapatite fluoresce yellow and blue-white, respectively. Fluorapatite crystal with phantoms and fluorescence, 5.5 ⨉ 4.1 ⨉ 1.8 cm, Panasqueira Mine, Covilha, Castelo Branco District, Portugal. © Rob Lavinsky, www.iRocks.com. Used with permission.

Since the Madagascar finds, the jewelry use of apatites of all colors has increased. Although the color of the best neon-blue green specimens can approximate that of the storied Paraíba tourmalines, all gem-quality apatites have a hardness of 5 at best. Unfortunately, apatites don't have the toughness of their tourmaline rivals. As jewelry stones, they will require special care.

Notable Apatite Colors and Varieties

In addition to prized blue-greens and purples, apatites can occur in other beautiful colors.

Mexican Yellow Apatite

Mexican yellow apatite is perhaps the most abundant gem material available. Thousands of crystals exist that would cut stones up to five carats.

This large faceted yellow gem is unusually clean for an apatite. Apatite rough-and-cut set, 5.2 ⨉ 4.4 ⨉ 4.3 cm (crystal), 1.8 ⨉ 1.8 ⨉ 1.4 cm, 25.5 cts (gem), Cerro Mercado, Durango, Mexico. © Rob Lavinsky, www.iRocks.com. Used with permission.

Cat's Eye Apatite

Chatoyancy can occur in blue-green and green gems from Myanmar and Sri Lanka. Brazil can produce green cat's eyes. Sri Lanka and Tanzania can produce yellow cat's eyes. The chatoyancy in Tanzanian apatites can be so intense that the material resembles cat's eye chrysoberyl.

Asparagus Stone

Light green apatites are sometimes referred to by the trade name "asparagus stones."

Apatite Properties and Identification

Distinguishing Apatite and Tourmaline

Aside from a destructive scratch test to determine hardness, distinguishing faceted apatites from tourmalines can sometimes prove challenging. Many of their properties overlap. Read this article on difficult separations for tips on identifying these gems.

Apatite Properties by Variety and Locality

Birefringence

• Chlorapatites have the lowest birefringence (~0.001).
• Fluorapatites: 0.004.
• Hydroxylapatites: 0.007.
• Carbonate apatites can range as high as 0.008. (The francolite variety can even reach 0.013).

Luminescence

• Yellow apatites fluoresce lilac-pink in shortwave (SW) and longwave (LW) ultraviolet light, (though stronger in LW).
• Blue apatites fluoresce violet-blue to sky blue.
• Violet material fluoresces greenish-yellow (LW) or pale mauve (SW).
• Green apatites fluoresce a greenish mustard color, though stronger in LW than SW.
• Manganapatite fluoresces pink in SW. In this variety, manganese (Mn) replaces calcium (Ca).

Pink apatite and aquamarine on a matrix of white orthoclase under normal light and under ultraviolet light. Photos by Géry Parent. Public domain.

Can You Distinguish Synthetic from Natural Apatites?

Laboratories have synthesized apatite for medical research, agricultural fertilizer, and industrial laser applications. Some of the stones created for laser research have, in fact, found their way into gem use. The Gemological Institute of America has reported that these synthetics display an unusual color change effect. Natural apatites don't display color change.

Enhancements

Heating can improve color, especially for blue and blue-green stones. Careful heating can turn yellow Mexican material colorless.

Apatite Sources

Brazil, Canada, India, Madagascar, and Mexico produce most gem-quality apatites.

Notable gem-quality sources, organized by color, include the following:

• Blue: Brazil, Myanmar; Sri Lanka.
• Blue-green: Madagascar (neon blue-green); Arendal, Norway (moroxite variety); Gravelotte, East Transvaal, South Africa.
• Violet: Germany; Portugal; Maine, California, United States.
• Yellow: Brazil; Canada; Durango, Mexico; Murcia, Spain.
• Green: Canada (trade name, trilliumite); India; Kenya; Madagascar; Mozambique; Myanmar; Portugal; Spain.
• Brown: Canada.
• Colorless: Germany; Italy; Myanmar.
• Cat's eye: Brazil; India; Myanmar; Sri Lanka; Tanzania.

Stone Sizes

Cut apatites are uncommon in museum collections.

Blue gems (Brazil) almost always range on the small side (1-2 carats). Myanmar produces 10-carat blue gems. However, this color is very scarce in larger sizes.

Yellow gems from Mexico up to 15-20 carats are known, but larger ones are quite rare.

The rarest and smallest in general, violet stones usually fall under 2 carats. However, the Roebling purple apatite in the Smithsonian Institution weighs approximately 100 grams (500 carats), a superb crystal.

Blue-green clean stones usually weigh less than 5 carats, very rarely more.

Green apatite occurs in large crystals. Canadian material has yielded 100-carat flawless stones. The world's largest golden green gem may be a 147-carat stone from Kenya.

Yellowish cat's eyes range up to about 15 carats, while green cat's eyes can weigh a bit larger (20 carats).

Caring for Apatite Jewelry

Brittle and sensitive, apatites must be cut and worn gently. Although difficult to cut and polish, apatites faceted with gem designs for quartz, tourmaline, and topaz will look wonderful.

For rings, use protective settings and reserve for occasional wear. Earrings, pendants, pins, and tie tacks make safer jewelry options. Since apatites are acid, heat, and shock sensitive, they deserve the same storage, care, and cleaning regimen as opals. Never use mechanical cleaning systems on these pieces. For more recommendations, consult our gemstone jewelry care guide.