Apatite is a common phosphate mineral known for its wide range of vibrant colors and sharp, hexagonal prismatic crystals. It is a soft mineral, ranking 5 on the Mohs scale, which makes it popular among mineral collectors but challenging for daily-wear jewelry. It is frequently found in pegmatites and metamorphic limestones worldwide.
Is this apatite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch apatite with a known reference. Apatite sits at Mohs 5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Apatite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Apatite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, blue, yellow, purple, brown, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: prismatic crystals, tabular, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Apatite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Beryl is the harder of the two (Mohs 7.5-8 vs. 5).
How to tell apart: Tourmaline is the harder of the two (Mohs 7-7.5 vs. 5).
How to tell apart: Apatite is noticeably harder (Mohs 5 vs. 4).
Often found alongside apatite
Minerals reported to co-occur with apatite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₅(PO₄)₃(F,Cl,OH)
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 3.1-3.2 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals, Tabular, Massive, Granular
- Cleavage
- Poor Basal
- Fluorescence
- Often Fluorescent Yellow or Blue Under UV
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Gemstone, Fertilizer Precursor
- Host rock
- Igneous Rocks, Metamorphic Rocks, And Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $10-100 for specimens, $20-200 per carat for high-quality gemstones
Where rockhounds find apatite
57 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Durango, Mexico
- Ontario, Canada
- Madagascar
- Brazil
- Pakistan
- Russia
U.S. states with apatite
Each link opens a state-specific list of mapped rockhounding spots that produce apatite.
Field-hunting tip
Look in igneous rocks, metamorphic rocks, and hydrothermal veins country — that is the host setting where apatite typically forms. If you start seeing calcite, quartz, feldspar in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic crystals, tabular, massive, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Utah, New Jersey, North Carolina — start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify apatite?+
Where is apatite found?+
Can I find apatite in the United States?+
How much is apatite worth?+
What rocks look like apatite?+
What minerals are found with apatite?+
What kind of rock does apatite form in?+
What is apatite used for?+
Find apatite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
