Carbonate-fluorapatite
Ca₅(PO₄,CO₃)₃F

     Carbonate-fluorapatite, a member of the apatite group, is a rare late-stage accessory mineral at MSH.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color is usually pale brown, beige or gray.
Luster is vitreous to greasy.
Diaphaneity is transparent to translucent.
Crystal System is hexagonal; P6₃/m.
Crystal Habits include botyroidal aggregates of tabular hexagonal
   crystals to 3mm and flat tabular crystals to 5mm.
Cleavage {001} is distinct and {100} is indistinct.
Fracture is conchoidal to uneven.
Hardness is 5.
Specific Gravity is approximately 3.1 - 3.5 g/cm³.
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals include aegirine, catapleiite and microcline.
Distinguishing Features: Crystal habit.
Origin: Named in 1906 for its composition: carbonate plus fluorapatite.

CLASSIFICATION:

REFERENCES:
b>MinRec 21:301 (1990), Dana 8:862 (1997)

DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:

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