Fluorapatite

Fluorapatite, often with the alternate spelling of fluoroapatite, is a <a href="/facts/Phosphate_mineral/WQylquz4">phosphate mineral</a> with the formula Ca5(PO4)3F (calcium fluorophosphate). Fluorapatite is a hard crystalline solid. Although samples can have various color (green, brown, blue, yellow, violet, or colorless), the pure mineral is colorless, as expected for a material lacking <a href="/facts/Transition_metal/0slGWoLQ">transition metals</a>. Along with <a href="/facts/Hydroxylapatite/SqcXuXVQ">hydroxylapatite</a>, it can be a component of <a href="/facts/Tooth_enamel/ffUMmssl">tooth enamel</a>, especially in individuals who use <a href="/facts/Fluoride_therapy/py56j7jI"> fluoridated toothpaste</a>, but for industrial use both minerals are mined in the form of <a href="/facts/Phosphate_rock/nX6Cqkcc">phosphate rock</a>, whose usual mineral composition is primarily fluorapatite but often with significant amounts of the other.
Fluorapatite crystallizes in a hexagonal crystal system. It is often combined as a <a href="/facts/Solid_solution/Mla7z8dc">solid solution</a> with hydroxylapatite (Ca5(PO4)3OH or Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) in biological matrices. <a href="/facts/Chlorapatite/f5tYvl1n">Chlorapatite</a> (Ca5(PO4)3Cl) is another related structure. Industrially, the mineral is an important source of both <a href="/facts/Phosphoric_acid/l6NbwyCv">phosphoric</a> and <a href="/facts/Hydrofluoric_acid/wdXqu4bE">hydrofluoric</a> acids.
Fluorapatite as a mineral is the most common phosphate mineral. It occurs widely as an accessory mineral in <a href="/facts/Igneous_rocks/xeMJhUah">igneous rocks</a> and in calcium rich <a href="/facts/Metamorphic_rocks/JRp6dsCm">metamorphic rocks</a>. It commonly occurs as a <a href="/facts/Detrital/UBsjHYRH">detrital</a> or <a href="/facts/Diagenesis/F1nATwdp">diagenic</a> mineral in <a href="/facts/Sedimentary_rocks/HQDCjrco">sedimentary rocks</a> and is an essential component of <a href="/facts/Phosphorite/nX6Cqkcc">phosphorite</a> ore deposits. It occurs as a residual mineral in <a href="/facts/Laterite/3FYFwspo">lateritic soils</a>.
Fluorapatite is found in the teeth of <a href="/facts/Shark/rh5Cotvx">sharks</a> and other fishes in varying concentrations. It is also present in <a href="/facts/Human_teeth/SVkPCLal">human teeth</a> that have been exposed to <a href="/facts/Fluoride/LpqNMzwa">fluoride</a> ions, for example, through <a href="/facts/Water_fluoridation/RyXmr2El">water fluoridation</a> or by using fluoride-containing <a href="/facts/Toothpaste/PMTIQxtj">toothpaste</a>. The presence of fluorapatite helps prevent tooth decay or <a href="/facts/Dental_caries/trECbk2z">dental caries</a>. Fluoroapatite has a mild bacteriostatic property as well, which helps decrease the proliferation of <a href="/facts/Streptococcus_mutans/gQB8pexM">Streptococcus mutans</a>, the predominant bacterium related to dental caries.

Fluorapatite open-in-new

Fluorapatite