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Locations: Brazil, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Sri Lanka  Colors Found: Blue, green, neon, violet, yellow & yellow-green  Family:  Apatite  Hardness:  5.00  Refractive Index:  1.63 - 1.64  Relative Density:  3.10 - 3.30

While it sounds like its hungry, it's actually trying to fool you! The name Apatite comes from the Greek word “apatao”, meaning “to deceive”, as Apatite has often been confused with gems such as Paraiba Tourmaline, Peridot (Olivine) and Beryl.

Ironically, the phosphates in bones and teeth of all vertebrate animals are members of the Apatite group, so the hunger connection is quite appropriate after all!

Apatite is said to enhance one's insight, learning abilities and creativity, and to give increased self-confidence. It also is said to help achieve deeper states of meditation. Using Apatite is said to facilitate the desired results when working with other crystals.

Apatite is also believed by crystal healers to be useful to help improve one's coordination, to strengthen muscles, help suppress hunger and to ease hypertension.

Apatite is actually three different minerals depending on the predominance of either fluorine, chlorine or the hydroxyl group: calcium (fluoro, chloro, hydroxyl) phosphate. These ions can freely substitute in the crystal lattice and all three are usually present in every specimen although some specimens are almost 100% pure in one group.

Gem quality Apatite is rare, particularly over 1 carat. The color of Apatite is often due to the presence of rare earth elements. It comes in many colors, including green, yellow, blue, violet, and a yellow-green variety, originally mined in Spain, commonly called “Asparagus Stone” because of its similarity in color to the vegetable. Cat's Eye Apatite is also known.

Recent finds of Apatite in Madagascar have added to the popularity of this gem. Exhibiting excellent saturation, Madagascan Apatite’s colors range from neon green to neon blue.