Phosphates
Phosphates
Phosphate minerals contain PO4-3 tetrahedra as their basic structural element. Most phosphates are very rare. They tend to be softer than many other gemstones, so more care and delicate handling are required in jewelry.
Apatite
In addition to PO4-3 tertrahedra, apatite contains calcium, hydroxyl, fluoride, and chloride ions. It has a hardness of 5 on the Mohs scale, and may be grayish blue-green, green, yellow, blue, aqua, brown, violet, or orange. These colors may be caused by trace elements or color centers caused by natural irradiation. Apatite is a major component in vertebrate bones and teeth; some apatite in sedimentary rock may originate from skeletons present in the stone.
Turquoise
References
Klein, Cornelis 2002. Mineral Science. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York.
Nesse, W. D. 2000. Introduction to Mineralogy. Oxford University Press, New York.
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