Apatito
Apatito is a mineral with formula Ca₅(PO₄)₃(F,Cl,OH), in the Fosfatos, Vanadatos y Arsenatos group. This specimen comes from Cantera Minera 1, Lebrija, Sevilla, Andalucía, España and joined the Terrium collection in 2025.
Description
Specimen in vertical orientation on a white background. Brownish-orange apatite in a whitish cavity, with delicate actinolite needles and prehnite aggregates. Good contrast of colours and textures.
History of this specimen
I documented the piece on FMF with its own photograph https://www.foro-minerales.com/forum/download.php?id=12525
About Apatito
Apatite is a calcium phosphate that forms hexagonal crystals (as all apatites do) in diverse environments. Although often known for green or violet colours, this brownish-orange specimen is characteristic of the volcanic setting at Lebrija. Accompanied by prehnite and actinolite, it attests to an interesting and uncommon paragenesis on the peninsula.
About the locality
Cantera Minera 1, Lebrija (Seville), is an exhausted and closed locality. Mining ended years ago, and specimens with well-formed cavities are very scarce on the market.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0006
- Composition
- Ca₅(PO₄)₃(F,Cl,OH)
- Name
- Apatito
- Group
- Fosfatos, Vanadatos y Arsenatos
- Category
- Cavella
- Matrix
- Matriz volcánica alterada
- Associations
- prehnita actinolita
- Mine
- Cantera Minera 1
- District / Municipality
- Lebrija
- Province
- Sevilla
- Region
- Andalucía
- Country
- España
- Size (cm)
- 6 x 4.5 x 2
- Weight
- 53 g
- Acquired
- 2025
- Ex-collection
- Diego Navarro
- Etymology
- Apatite: Pandora's box The name carries mythological weight. Apatite appears in colours and forms that imitate precious gems (beryl, peridot, tourmaline). It misled collectors and experts for centuries. Its name comes from the Greek apate (ἀπάτη), meaning "deceit". But Apate was not just any word: in Greek mythology, Apate was the goddess of deceit, one of the malevolent spirits that emerged from Pandora's box. To name a mineral thus is to accuse it of being one of the plagues of humanity.
- Quality
- Buena
- Value trend
- Estable
Related specimens
- Abellaíta — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Aerenita — España
- Aerinita (fibrosa) — España
- Analcima — España
- Analcima — España