The Phosphate category includes minerals associated with phosphoric acid (H3(PO4)). Phosphate minerals are characterized by a structure containing tetrahedral phosphate units. The structure of phosphates contains numerous substitutions in the phosphate anion, most notably arsenate, vanadate, fluorine, and hydroxide anions.
There are approximately 200 species of minerals in the phosphate group. Phosphate species vary widely in physical properties such as luster and hardness, as well as chemical composition.
Phosphates also differ in formation. Most commonly, phosphates crystallize in mineral-rich, dissolved, aqueous, fluids. However, phosphates can also form in low-temperature conditions in the presence of other solvents such as water. Due to crystallization processes, phosphates typically occur in low-silica carbonatite deposits.
The most common application for phosphate minerals is in producing fertilizers. Phosphates are desirable in agriculture for their superior physical properties and high nutrient concentrations. Notable examples of phosphates include minerals in the Apatite group, Pyromorphite, Erythrite, Autunite, Turquoise, and Arsenate Minerals.
Examples
Langite from Mountain Mine, County Cork, Ireland
Apatite Group
- Fluorapatite
- Chlorapatite
Arsenates
- Annabergite
- Conichalcite
- Adamite
- Clinoclase
- Conichalcite
- Mimetite
- Olivenite
Others
-
Wavellite
-
Turquoise
-
Pyromorphite
-
Autunite
Tunnel Turo, Caneanea, Sonora, Mexico - Wavelite - Turquoise - Pyromorphite - Autunite
References
"Phosphate minerals", Wikipedia, 10 January 2020 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbonate_minerals ↗
"Phosphate mineral", Encyclopedia Brittanica, 10 January 2020 https://www.britannica.com/science/phosphate-mineral ↗