The mineral apatite has several forms and many uses. In addition to Apatite Beads for jewelry, this substance has agricultural, dental and electronic uses. The name apatite comes from the Greek word ‘apatao,’ which means ‘deceitful’, because this group of minerals can look like so many others. Apatite is a collection of phosphate minerals, including hydroxylapatite, fluorapatite and chlorapatite. It is relatively soft and is the index material for hardness level 5 on Moh’s Scale. Apatite gemstone beads come from all over the world, including the United States, Brazil, Canada and Sri Lanka. We make buying beads online easy, and we always offer affordable beads and beading supplies everyday at the Bead Traders.
Versatile
Apatite beads come in many colors, but blue, green, yellow, brown and clear are the most common. This wide array of hues make apatite gemstone beads a versatile choice for jewelry making projects. The blue and green colors have a cool, icy appearance and pair well with clear or white beads and silver metal beads and findings. This relatively soft material can be formed into many shapes and sizes, from hearts and teardrops to rectangles and rondelles.
Source of Phosphorus
The most common use of apatite is the production of phosphorus. Rocks containing apatite are used to produce phosphate for agricultural fertilizer, and it is also used by the chemical and pharmaceutical industries.
Teeth and Bones
Our teeth and bones contain hydroxylapatite, one of the forms of apatite. In the 1960s, scientists discovered that in areas where there was a high concentration of fluoride in the drinking water, people got fewer cavities. This is because the fluoride replaces hydroxyl ions in the tooth enamel, turning it into fluorapatite, which makes the teeth more resistant to acids.
Moon Rocks
Apatite is literally out of this world. Samples of rocks brought back from the surface of the moon by astronauts in the 1960s and 70s have been tested and found to contain apatite. Further analysis also found that the mineral rocks contained enough water to cover the surface of the moon to a depth of about 3 feet.
Rare Earth Minerals
In recent years, deposits of apatite have been found that contain rare earth elements, which are valuable because of their use in manufacturing components for the electronics industry. An advantage to the apatite ore is that it is not usually radioactive, which is a problem with many of the other rare earth mineral deposits
Quality Assurance
Thanks to our Three-Part Value Pledge, the Bead Traders guarantees that the apatite beads you purchase will be of the best quality and value available. Our bulk buying practices and quality inspections let us sell you top quality materials at the best prices, and we will always sell the best gemstone beads available. If the apatite beads you ordered are out of stock, we will substitute a better bead for your order. Try apatite gemstone beads from the Bead Traders for your next creative adventure.