kalziumphosphatmineral

Kalziumphosphatmineral, or calcium phosphate mineral, is a mineral class composed primarily of calcium phosphate. The best-known member is the apatite group, with the general formula Ca5(PO4)3X, in which X is OH, F, or Cl. Other calcium phosphate minerals include monetite (CaHPO4), brushite (CaHPO4·2H2O), and whitlockite (Ca9Mg(PO4)6PO3OH). These minerals vary in composition, hydration state, and the degree of substitution by fluoride, chloride, hydroxide, and other cations.

Occurrence and significance: Calcium phosphate minerals are common in crustal rocks as accessory phases and form large marine phosphate deposits in phosphorites. They are economically important as the primary ore sources of phosphorus used in fertilizers and industrial chemistry. Biologically, calcium phosphate minerals constitute the mineral phase of bone and tooth enamel (hydroxyapatite) and play a key role in mineralization processes.

Properties and classification: Apatite minerals crystallize in the hexagonal system and typically occur as prismatic to tabular crystals. They often exhibit a range of colors due to impurities and substitutions. Solubility and stability depend on composition and environmental conditions, with fluorapatite generally being less soluble than hydroxyapatite. Kalziumphosphatmineral as a taxonomic concept includes the apatite group (fluorapatite, chlorapatite, hydroxyapatite) and related calcium phosphate minerals such as monetite, brushite, and whitlockite, unified by their calcium phosphate framework.