Discovery
Apatite crystals are found all over the world in various forms. In one instance in 1818, specimens were found, along with schorl crystals, in granite in the Wolley Farm near Bovey Tracy, Devon, England. It was found by farm workers along with other traces in Embry and Symes, England. These crystals were white.
A more recent and extensive mining of apatite was conducted in the Sapo Mine of Conselheiro Pena Minas Gerais, Brazil in 1985. Local farmers located dark green, hexagonal crystals which were hydroxyapatite and fluorapatite. In June of 2005, Clovis Martins Coelho and his crew discovered green pyramidal hydroxyapatite in a tunnel and some bipyramidal crystals of the same specimen which were a deep oil-green color. From December of 2006 to June of 2007, another tunnel was explored on the farm of Adalberto Cunha which exposed curving stacks of fluorapatite. The tall green stacks were nicknamed "scorpion tails". These species are estimated to be 2 billion years old and it took 23 years in total to mine these mines in total. The crystals typically had a yellow core of fluorapatite and an outer green layer of hydroxyapatite.
On a different note, bone mineralization patterns consist of apatite as well. Calcium and hydroxyapatite are found in the bone, and are essential for its hardness and strength, especially when resisting force. 1/4 of the volume and 1/2 of the mass of an adult human bone is apatite.
As NASA has discovered, water is found in apatite crystals on the moon. According to their research, the water contained by the apatite crystals on the moon is more than the amount of water contained by all of the Great Lakes combined.
Usage
The BASF, a German company, is conducting research on tooth enamel. They are developing a film to protect, strengthen, and whiten the enamel of teeth which will replace the harmful bleaching and whitening strips that are used today. The product is called Hydroxyapaire and is formulated using the apatite crystals. To synthesize this film, needle-shaped crystals are created by reacting calcium hydroxide with phosphoric acid and water. It is then spray-dried and used with toothpaste or in a separate mixture. This will protect against tooth decay and sensitivity to hot or cold foods. As of now, the product has only been released in Germany.
Also, apatite is often used in organic fertilizers. In order to manufacture this, crystals are broken-down with sulphuric acid after they are mined. Although apatite is a stable crystal, it can potentially retain radioactive and metal pieces. However, it is useful in removing radioactive waste from water, as it will be used to do so in the Columbia River in Hanford. Finally, and most evidently, apatite crystals are utilized for jewelry.
Apatite crystals are found all over the world in various forms. In one instance in 1818, specimens were found, along with schorl crystals, in granite in the Wolley Farm near Bovey Tracy, Devon, England. It was found by farm workers along with other traces in Embry and Symes, England. These crystals were white.
A more recent and extensive mining of apatite was conducted in the Sapo Mine of Conselheiro Pena Minas Gerais, Brazil in 1985. Local farmers located dark green, hexagonal crystals which were hydroxyapatite and fluorapatite. In June of 2005, Clovis Martins Coelho and his crew discovered green pyramidal hydroxyapatite in a tunnel and some bipyramidal crystals of the same specimen which were a deep oil-green color. From December of 2006 to June of 2007, another tunnel was explored on the farm of Adalberto Cunha which exposed curving stacks of fluorapatite. The tall green stacks were nicknamed "scorpion tails". These species are estimated to be 2 billion years old and it took 23 years in total to mine these mines in total. The crystals typically had a yellow core of fluorapatite and an outer green layer of hydroxyapatite.
On a different note, bone mineralization patterns consist of apatite as well. Calcium and hydroxyapatite are found in the bone, and are essential for its hardness and strength, especially when resisting force. 1/4 of the volume and 1/2 of the mass of an adult human bone is apatite.
As NASA has discovered, water is found in apatite crystals on the moon. According to their research, the water contained by the apatite crystals on the moon is more than the amount of water contained by all of the Great Lakes combined.
Usage
The BASF, a German company, is conducting research on tooth enamel. They are developing a film to protect, strengthen, and whiten the enamel of teeth which will replace the harmful bleaching and whitening strips that are used today. The product is called Hydroxyapaire and is formulated using the apatite crystals. To synthesize this film, needle-shaped crystals are created by reacting calcium hydroxide with phosphoric acid and water. It is then spray-dried and used with toothpaste or in a separate mixture. This will protect against tooth decay and sensitivity to hot or cold foods. As of now, the product has only been released in Germany.
Also, apatite is often used in organic fertilizers. In order to manufacture this, crystals are broken-down with sulphuric acid after they are mined. Although apatite is a stable crystal, it can potentially retain radioactive and metal pieces. However, it is useful in removing radioactive waste from water, as it will be used to do so in the Columbia River in Hanford. Finally, and most evidently, apatite crystals are utilized for jewelry.