Purple Fluorapatite is highly prized by collectors for its vibrant violet to deep purple hues and sharp hexagonal crystal geometry. It is frequently found as distinct, well-formed prisms in pockets within pegmatites or hydrothermal environments, often accompanied by Quartz or Muscovite. Collectors should look for high-clarity specimens with sharp terminal faces, as these command the highest interest.
Is this purple fluorapatite?
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 purple fluorapatite with a known reference. Purple Fluorapatite 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. Purple Fluorapatite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Purple Fluorapatite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: purple, violet.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: prismatic crystals, tabular crystals, massive.
Often confused with
Purple Fluorapatite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside purple fluorapatite
Minerals reported to co-occur with purple fluorapatite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₅(PO₄)₃F
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 3.1-3.2 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals, Tabular Crystals, Massive
- Cleavage
- Indistinct
- Fluorescence
- Often Bright Yellow or Violet Under UV Light
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Decorative
- Host rock
- Pegmatites, Hydrothermal Veins, Metamorphic Rocks
- Typical price
- $20-150 for thumbnail to cabinet specimens
Where rockhounds find purple fluorapatite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Panasqueira, Portugal
- Sapo Mine, Brazil
- Bolivia
- Pakistan
- Maine, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, metamorphic rocks country, the host setting where purple fluorapatite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, muscovite, topaz in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic crystals, tabular crystals, massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Maine. Start trip planning there.
More purple fluorapatite photos
Common questions
How do you identify purple fluorapatite?+
Where is purple fluorapatite found?+
Can I find purple fluorapatite in the United States?+
How much is purple fluorapatite worth?+
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Find purple fluorapatite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
