Phosphate

Phosphate minerals are those minerals that contain the tetrahedrally coordinated phosphate (PO43-) anion along with the freely substituting arsenate (AsO43-) and vanadate (VO43-).

Phosphate in a Nutshell
This underappreciated substance is more important than you know.
The Nevada Silver Rush ...

Phosphate
A salt composed of the most highly oxidized acid of phosphorus, and forms an important and extensive series of compounds.

Phosphates: A PO4 group is the identifying chemical landmark for gems of this class. Many of these gems have very complex formulas, but do not be intimidated, you can still see the phosphate group in there! ...

Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
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Like sulfur, the elements phosphorous (P), arsenic (As), and vanadium (V) form tetrahedral anion groups in combination with oxygen.

PhosphateApatite
Ca5(PO4)3(OH,F,Cl)
Most distinguishing features:
Colour, crystal habit and hardness are good indicators.

"Phosphate of Lime, asparagus stone, in sulphuret of iron. Phosphate of lime, under some varieties, is found in most of the mines of magnetic iron in New York; it is often in yellowish white, or reddish grains ...

Phosphates. The phosphates contain tetrahedral PO43- groups as the dominant polyanion. A common example is apatite (Ca5(PO4)3(OH)) a principal component of bones and teeth.

The lead phosphate mineral, pyromorphite, is probably the most common lead secondary species to be found at Leadhills and Wanlockhead, in addition to cerussite,
with which is is very commonly associated.

Apatite is a phosphate mineral, more commonly known for its use in the manufacturer of fertilizer than as a gemstone due to its biological properties.

Is a group of phosphate minerals found in sedimentary rocks. Apatite is the defining mineral for 5 on Mohs Scale of Hardness and occurs in colourless, yellow, blue, violet or green.

Turquoise is a phosphate mineral, and
it gets it's vivid blue color from copper.
This stone can also contain iron,
which occurs as a familiar black matrix
in many stones, or if it is well integrated,
can give turquoise a green color.

(Na, Ca, Ba, Mn phosphate)
Manganokukisvumite
(Na, Ca carbonate) (p) ...

Apatite (calcium phosphate) is a clear to opaque stone that comes in many colors, including green, yellow, blue, violet, and yellow-green (called asparagus stone). Some apatite stones show a cat's eye asterism.

Apatite is Calcium Phosphate combined with fluorine, chlorine or hydroxyl. Spanish Apatite is often called "asparagus stone" due to its yellowish-green color.

A copper aluminium phosphate, turquoise is often found in crevices in volcanic rock and in regions where there is a high concentration of copper. The most famous deposits are in the USA, Mexico, Israel, Iran, Afghanistan and China.

Comments: aluminum phosphate
Augite ... calcium magnesium iron aluminum silicate..(see pyroxene) Aurichalcite ... hydrous zinc copper carbonate Color: light blue
SG: 4.2
Hardness: 2 - 2.5
Austinite .. Australite ..

This stone is a hydrated aluminum copper phosphate that often contains iron. Its name comes from French pierre turquoise, meaning "Turkish stone," a reference to where Persian material passed on its way to Europe.

The vanadates, together with the related arsenates, are classified in the phosphate group. Most vanadates are heavy, and none are hard. They are usually brittle and occur in small crystals or compact aggregates.

In the case of flux diffusions, we used fluxes of calcium borate, calcium phosphate, or sodium phosphate. In each case we used small additions of alumina and zirconia to raise the viscosity of the flux at high temperature.

Turquoise: A hydrous aluminum phosphate colored by copper salts found in desert regions throughout the world and used in jewelry by the natives who live there including Mongolian, Chinese, Native Australian, Persian, ...

Phosphates - Minerals containing the phosphate (PO4) radical as a major component. (Apatite)
Phosphorescence - A lingering emission of light following exposure to Ultraviolet light or other energy.

Turquoise is a copper aluminium phosphate with a hardness of 6, i.e. considerably softer than quartz.

For many years opaque, crystallized, non-gem apatite has been mined and used extensively as an industrial source of phosphate both for fertilizer as well as other chemicals which contain phosphate.

This is a mineral called Phosphate. The color of the mineral is the result of underground water running over lumps of copper or aluminum phosphates, embedded in the parent rock.

Turquoise is a non-translucent, porous semi-precious stone (it is a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminum) that is usually cut as a cabochon.

Variscite is a lovely green gemstone belonging to the phosphate group and is not found in abundance. The colors vary from light hues of green with bluish tints to darker shades of green.

Apatite is not a single mineral, but a phosphate mineral group consisting of chlorapatite, fluorapatite, and hydroxylapatite. Each individual mineral has a certain level of chlorine, fluorine, or hydroxy in varying amounts and combinations.

Apatite is actually three different minerals depending on the predominance of either fluorine, chlorine or the hydroxyl group: calcium (fluoro, chloro, hydroxyl) phosphate.

Variscite, AlPO4-2H2O, Hydrated Aluminum Phosphate, (also called Utahlite) is a relatively rare translucent pastel green to emerald green gemstone with blue or yellow overtones (it is similar to chrysocolla, chrysoprase and turquoise).

to improve upon it by proposing that the material in question was not true turquoise, which is often light blue or green, but false turquoise or odontolite, which consists of fossil bones colored blue by vivianite, a hydrated iron phosphate.

Chemically, a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminum, turquoise is formed by the percolation of meteoric or groundwater through aluminous rock in the presence of copper.

Variscite is a relatively rare phosphate mineral which is sometimes confused with Chrysocolla or the greener forms of Turquoise. Colors are light bluish green, medium and dark greens.

turquoise - a hydrous copper aluminum phosphate that always occurs in fine-grained, compact masses in a light blue color often with bits of brown or grey. This opaque stone is almost always cabochon cut.

It is an opaque mineral consisting essentially of phosphates and is of a colour ranging from sky-blue to apple-green. The best turquoise is, however, dark and should be totally free of any black veins or white specks. It must be cut en cabochon.

apatite A calcium phosphate mineral representing 5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale.
apex The point or edge of joining lines or planes cresting an angle. The girdle is the apex of the crown and pavilion. The culet is the apex of the pavilion.

Chemical composition -- A family of phosphates containing calcium, iron, chlorine, and several other elements in varying quantities. The most common variety contains fluorine, and fluorapatite is the main constituent in bones and teeth! ...

The powdered glass mixture is composed of feldspar, quartz, sods, borax, calcium phosphates, and kaolin. Metallic oxides produce the various desired colors.

Turquoise is a blue to grey green mineral consisting of copper aluminum phosphate.

Wagnerite is a gemstone which combines phosphate and fluoride of iron and magnesium. It is named after F.M. von Wagner (1768-1851), a mining official in Munich, Germany.

found in pegmatites, and phosphate-rich sedimentary rocks
Association:
variscite, vivianite, lazulite, apatite, amblygonite ...

Chemical Composition: hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminum
Crystal System: triclinic (cryptocrystalline)
Hardness: 5-6
Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.9
Geographic Origins: Iran, southwestern U.S.

The chemical composition of turquoise is that of a hydrous copper aluminum phosphate with some iron, the composition varies from stone to stone.

There are four broad categories of minerals here: Silicates (those containing Si), Oxides (Corundum, Spinel), Phosphates (Turquois), and native elements (Diamond).
IMPORTANT TREATMENTS
(a more complete list is here)
Heating ...

Hard Soldering Flux Recipe
50 grams boric acid crytals
32 grams sodium phosphate
34 grams powdered borax
1 pint distilled water.

Etymology: Middle English turkeis, turcas, from Middle French turquoyse, from feminine of turquoys Turkish, from Old French, from Turc Turk
1 : a mineral that is a blue, bluish green, or greenish gray hydrous basic phosphate of copper and aluminum, ...

Endangered species are hunted for their ivory, and the United States will not allow importation or sales. But sea lion teeth are used for good quality ivory carving now. Very soft, a 2-3 on the Mohs'. Calcium phosphate in composition.

Bone china is a non-frit paste which contains bone ash, a substance which added lime and phosphates that kept the porcelain from warping or collapsing when fired.

Turquoise:A mineral composed of hydrated copper aluminum phosphate that ranges in color from sky blue to pale green and has a fairly low rating of 5 to 6 on the Mohs Scale.

See also: Mineral, Stone, Color, Crystal, Minerals