Description
Apatite, Natural, Chips, 32in Strand, 8x4mm.
Apatite forms under a wide variety of conditions and is found in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. It is usually green to blue in color, but can be yellow, brown, purple, pink, or colorless. The bright, well saturated electric blue to blue-green colored stone became known as Neon Apatite. The color is natural, and no treatments or alterations are required to achieve it.
The name Apatite was invented by A.G. Werner probably sometime in the mid-1780s, which he later described as being named from the Greek verb to deceive someone because, as he wrote, "until now it has misled all mineralogists in its identification”
Major sources for gem apatite are Brazil, Myanmar, and Mexico. Other sources include Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, India, Madagascar, Mozambique, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, and the United States.
Hardness 5
Made in China.
