Yellow apatite is a sought-after gem-quality variety known for its vibrant, clean golden hues. Collectors typically look for well-formed hexagonal prisms or faceted stones from Mexican localities, where it is often associated with volcanic rocks.
Is this yellow 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 yellow apatite with a known reference. Yellow 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. Yellow Apatite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Yellow Apatite typically shows a vitreous to subresinous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, golden yellow, honey yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: prismatic, tabular, or massive.
Often confused with
Yellow 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); luster reads vitreous to subresinous on Yellow Apatite and vitreous on Beryl.
How to tell apart: Citrine is the harder of the two (Mohs 7 vs. 5); luster reads vitreous to subresinous on Yellow Apatite and vitreous on Citrine.
How to tell apart: Topaz is the harder of the two (Mohs 8 vs. 5); luster reads vitreous to subresinous on Yellow Apatite and vitreous on Topaz.
Often found alongside yellow apatite
Minerals reported to co-occur with yellow 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 to Subresinous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic, Tabular, Or Massive
- Cleavage
- Poor On {0001}
- Fluorescence
- Often Fluorescent Yellow or Blue Under UV Light
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Gemstone, Collector
- Host rock
- Pegmatites, Contact Metamorphic Rocks, And Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $20-200 per carat depending on clarity and color saturation
Where rockhounds find yellow apatite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Durango, Mexico
- Cerro de Mercado, Mexico
- Spain
- Brazil
- Canada
Field-hunting tip
Look in pegmatites, contact metamorphic rocks, and hydrothermal veins country, the host setting where yellow apatite typically forms. If you start seeing calcite, quartz, diopside in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic, tabular, or massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Virginia. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify yellow apatite?+
Where is yellow apatite found?+
Can I find yellow apatite in the United States?+
How much is yellow apatite worth?+
What rocks look like yellow apatite?+
What minerals are found with yellow apatite?+
What kind of rock does yellow apatite form in?+
What is yellow apatite used for?+
Find yellow apatite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
