Skip to content
  • Professionals
  • Gardeners
 
Search
Log in
EN
RU
  • Markets
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Technologies
  • Interviews
  • Rankings
  • Environment
  • Events
  • Stock Quotes
  • Business Directory
Trending topic:

Artificial intelligence

Featured company:
 
RU
  • Professionals
  • Gardeners
Sections
Events
Stock Quotes
Business Directory
Trending topic:

Artificial intelligence

Featured company:
Follow us...
Helpful information
  • About
  • Team
  • Advertise
  • Contacts
  • Submit a Tip
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
Sections
Seasonal tips
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Trending topics
  • compost
    19
  • garlic
    2
  • lemon
    1
  • potato
    12
Follow us...
Helpful information
  • About
  • Team
  • Advertise
  • Contacts
  • Submit a Tip
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
Copyright © 2014-2025 DigitalTree LLC. All rights reserved.
We deliver content lightning-fast thanks to the managed cloud WordPress hosting with CDN.
16+

Fluorapatite: A Mineral of Global Significance

Andrey Viktorov avatar Andrey Viktorov
September 11, 2023, 10:00 pm
September 11, 2023, 10:00 pm
409
Technologies
Fluorapatite: A Mineral of Global Significance
Save for later
Share

Fluorapatite, a mineral first identified in 1823 by German mineralogist Abraham Gottlob Werner, stands as the most prevalent species within the apatite group. The name “apatite” draws its origins from the Greek word “apatein,” aptly translating to “to deceive,” a nod to the mineral’s deceptive resemblance to several others. What distinctly identifies fluorapatite within this group, however, is the pronounced concentration of fluorine in its composition.

Geographic Distribution and Appearance

Found commonly in igneous formations like granite and pegmatite, as well as in hydrothermal veins and metamorphic rocks, fluorapatite’s presence spans across the globe. Notable locations rich in this mineral include Brazil, Russia, Madagascar, Canada, the United States, and South Africa.

Exhibiting a hexagonal crystal system, fluorapatite possesses a hardness of 5 on the Mohs scale, indicating a fair degree of durability. This mineral offers a spectrum of captivating hues, ranging from muted yellows and greens to vivid blues, violets, and purples, all characterized by a vitreous to subresinous luster. It boasts a density that oscillates between 3.1 to 3.2 g/cm^3.

Applications Across Fields

Despite its captivating array of colors, fluorapatite is not frequently employed in jewelry design. Its value, rather, emerges predominantly in more practical applications. As the primary reservoir of phosphorus, a nutrient vital for plant growth, the phosphorus embedded within fluorapatite is frequently extracted for use in fertilizers. Moreover, this mineral serves as a foundation for the creation of phosphoric acid, a component integral to various industries, spanning from food and beverages to detergents.

ADVERTISEMENT

An additional noteworthy application of fluorapatite is its contribution to dental health. As the principal source of fluoride utilized in water fluoridation and dental products like toothpaste, it plays an instrumental role in fortifying dental health.

A Cornerstone of Global Agriculture

While fluorapatite’s applications are diverse, its paramount significance undoubtedly lies in its contribution to global agriculture. The mineral’s capacity to supply phosphorus, an indispensable nutrient for crops, underscores its role in bolstering food production. Consequently, fluorapatite emerges as a linchpin in ensuring global food security. The fluctuations in its global value are closely tied to the shifting demands for fertilizers and phosphoric acid, both of which are influenced by agricultural requirements and broader economic landscapes.

Fluorapatite
geology
phosphorous

Enjoyed this story?

Every Monday, our subscribers get their hands on a digest of the most trending agriculture news. You can join them too!

Sign me up
Check the example

Discussion0 comments

Спасибо за комментарий, он будет опубликован на сайте после проверки модератором. Хотите, чтобы ваши комментарии появлялись на сайте мгновенно? Достаточно пройти регистрацию.
Congratulations, you can be the first to start the conversation.
Do you have a question or suggestion? Please leave your comment to ignite conversation.
What’s on your mind?
Cancel Log in and comment
Or continue without registration
Get notified about new comments by email.
Advertisement
In focus
  • AgroThrive Organic Fertilizer
    Premium organic bio-fertilizer formulated to provide both nutrient supply and stimulation of soil microbes.
  • Droplex Xtra
    Superior adjuvant that is the ultimate spreader-sticker, canopy-penetrating, drift management product on the market
  • Hydra Charge™ Biosolid Fertilizer Plus Surfactant
    Professional-grade biosolid lawn fertilizer with two complementary surfactants which aides in the penetration of water into the soil and the retention of water.
How to get here?
Stock quotes
Bayer
7.98
1.72
Bayer Crop Science
27.34
1.58
CF Industries
98.24
2.59
Corteva Agriscience
73.57
1.68
ICL Group
7.07
0.14
Intrepid Potash
35.1
0.03
Mosaic
36.45
1.42
Nutrien
60.99
0.31
Yara International
18.93
1.35
See all
Most read
Oleg Shiryaev steps down as CEO of EuroChem
Oleg Shiryaev steps down as CEO of EuroChem
Syngenta’s Jeff Rowe: ‘We want to become the most profitable agrochemical company in the world’
Syngenta’s Jeff Rowe: ‘We want to become the most profitable agrochemical company in the world’
Russia targets doubling agricultural exports to China by 2030
Russia targets doubling agricultural exports to China by 2030
Nufarm reenters Brazilian market with innovation-focused strategy
Nufarm reenters Brazilian market with innovation-focused strategy
ADM and PYCO to combine Texas cottonseed facilities
ADM and PYCO to combine Texas cottonseed facilities
Events
Southwestern Fertilizer Conference
Nashville (TN), USA
Jul 13 — 17, 2025
Agronomy Conference and Expo
Indianapolis (IN), USA
Aug 4 — 6, 2025
AgriBusiness Global Trade Summit
Lake Buena Vista (FL), USA
Aug 5 — 6, 2025
Farm Progress Show
Decatur (IL), USA
Aug 26 — 28, 2025
World Fertilizer Conference
Washington (DC), USA
Sep 15 — 17, 2025
See all
Live
Selena Hampton
May 15, 07:17 am
The topics covered here are always so interesting and unique Thank you for keeping me informed and entertained!
Four Growers develops robots to address greenhouse labor shortages
Lukas Dunn
May 15, 07:15 am
This is exactly what I needed to read today Your words have provided me with much-needed reassurance and comfort
Israeli startup Tevel revolutionizes fruit harvesting with flying autonomous robots
Patonkas Luksompulus
January 21, 12:36 pm
Greece meeds biological fertilizers! Great news about De sangosse.
DE SANGOSSE expands operations with Greek subsidiary
Pedro Diaz
November 20, 2024, 08:42 pm
Is it a Roundup lawsuit or more about bad financials? I think the market reacted only to announced financial results.
Bayer’s shares are pressed down by ongoing Roundup cancer lawsuit
Johan Fredin
August 22, 2024, 07:57 pm
Europe is falling behind in this field. The concerns 30 years ago was reasonable. Now not so much. We need crops that can survive in a more extreme future climate. Handle droughts and hot weather better. Crops that are less tasty to pests like hogs and deere.
Gene-edited crops set for groundbreaking European trials
About
Sections
Markets  ·  Business  ·  Politics  ·  Technologies  ·  Interviews  ·  Rankings  ·  Environment
Support
About  ·  Team  ·  Advertise  ·  Contacts  ·  Submit a Tip  ·  Privacy Policy  ·  Terms of Service
Copyright © 2014-2025 DigitalTree LLC. All rights reserved.
We deliver content lightning-fast thanks to the managed cloud WordPress hosting with CDN.
16+
More to read
Decades-Long German Study Reveals That Balanced Mineral Fertilizer Essential for Sustainable Agriculture
Decades-Long German Study Reveals That Balanced Mineral Fertilizer Essential for Sustainable Agriculture
Hydrometallurgical Plant develops a unique technology
Hydrometallurgical Plant develops a unique technology
Kirovo-Chepetsk Chemical Plant started a renovation project
Kirovo-Chepetsk Chemical Plant started a renovation project
Advertising that helps us do quality reporting