Apatite is named for the Greek word 

apate, which means "deceit", since Apatite is similar

in appearance to many other minerals. Apatite describes a group of
similar isomorphous hexagonal phosphate minerals. The primary Apatite group
includes Fluorapatite, Chlorapatite, and Hydroxylapatite. The extended Apatite
supergroup describes additional minerals such as Pyromorphite, Mimetite, and Vanadinite,
but these are described individually in this guide.

It can be difficult to distinguish between individual members of the primary Apatite

group. A designation of the specific Apatite type is not usually made, being called simply
"Apatite" by collectors and dealers. However, most of the fine crystals and collector
specimens are of the Fluorapatite type, which is by far the most common form of Apatite.

Apatite is the most common phosphate mineral, and is the main source of the phosphorus
required by plants. The bones and teeth of most animals, including humans, are composed
of calcium phosphate, which is the same material as Apatite. (These biological Apatites
are almost exclusively the Hydroxylapatite type.)
Chemical Apatite is mineral group with the following chemical formula
Formula applied to the most common members of the primary group
(excluding the extended Apatite supergroup):
Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH)

Individual Apatite minerals are:

Fluorapatite - Ca5(PO4)3F
Chlorapatite - Ca5(PO4)3Cl
Hydroxylapatite - Ca5(PO4)3OH
Composition Apatite group - Calcium fluoro-chloro-hydroxyl phosphate

Common Individual Group Members:

Fluorapatite - Calcium fluoro-phosphate
Cholorapatite - Calcium chloro-phosphate
Hyldroxylapatite - Basic calcium phosphate

Variable
(Ca,Sr,Pb,Y,Mn,Na)5(PO4,AsO4,SO4,CO3)3(F,Cl,OH)
Formula
Color Colorless, white, yellow, brown, gray, red, pink, purple, blue,
green. Some specimens are multicolored.
Streak White
Hardness 5
Crystal System Hexagonal
3D Crystal Atlas
(Click for animated model) 
Crystal Forms (The hexagonal crystal system  designation is due to a
and Aggregates hexagonal symmetry of most Apatite. However, positional ordering
of chlorine  atoms or
the hydroxyl radical in Chlorapatite and Hydroxylapatite  can
lead to monoclinic symmetry.)

Apatite generally forms as well-shaped hexagonal crystals, which

may be prismatic, dipyramidal, and stubby. Also as
flat, tabular plates, columnar, in stacked parallel growths,
as globular masses, acicular, grainy, stalactitic, botryoidal,
and earthy. Also in enormous beds of massive material, from which
industrial phosphorus is mined.
Transparency Transparent to translucent
Specific Gravity 3.1 - 3.2
Luster Vitreous
Cleavage Indiscernible
Fracture Conchoidal
Tenacity Brittle
Other ID Marks 1) Specimens from certain localities will fluoresce orange yellow
in shortwave ultraviolet light.
2) Thermoluminescent bluish-white.
Complex Tests 1) May become fluorescent orange-yellow in longwave ultraviolet
light after heating.
2) Dissolves in hydrochloric acid.
In Group Phosphates; True Phosphates; Ap