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Encyclopedia of Scientific Dating Methods pp 53–54Cite as

Apatite

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Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series ((EESS))

Synonyms

Chlorapatite (chlorine-rich variety); Dahllite (carbonate-bearing hydroxyapatite); Fluorapatite (fluorine-rich variety); Francolite (carbonate-rich variety); Hydroxyapatite (hydroxyl-rich variety)

Definition

Apatite is described herein and as a biomineral (biological apatite). The mineral apatite has the formula Ca5(PO4)3(F, Cl, OH) and is characterized (Figure 1) by phosphorus tetrahedrons which share oxygen with nine-coordinated calcium sites and singly charged anion lattice sites hosting F, Cl, or OH that are surrounded by a planar arrangement of three calcium atoms (Beevers and McIntryre, 1946). It occurs widely as an accessory mineral in all classes of rocks: igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary (Klein and Hurlbut, 1999). It is also found in pegmatites and other veins, probably of hydrothermal origin. The source of its datability is the radioactive trace element uranium that substitutes for calcium.

Apatite, Figure 1
figure 115 figure 115

Apatite structure viewed along the c-crystallographic...

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Bibliography

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main St., L8S 4K1, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    W. Jack Rink

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  1. W. Jack Rink
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Correspondence to W. Jack Rink .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    W. Jack Rink  & Jeroen W. Thompson  & 

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Rink, W.J. (2015). Apatite. In: Jack Rink, W., Thompson, J.W. (eds) Encyclopedia of Scientific Dating Methods. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6304-3_205

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