Apatite of alkaline rocks of the Vishnevogorsky complex, South Urals

Abstract

Apatite Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH) is a widespread accessory mineral of alkaline rocks of the Vishnevye Mountains in the Urals. There are small bodies of carbonatites and micaceous rocks, where apatite is a rock-forming mineral. The rocks mostly contain fuorapatite and, locally, apatite-(CaOH). The Cl-bearing apatite is rare. Apatite is enriched in Na2O (up to 1.77 wt. %), REE2O3 (up to 6.98 wt. %) and SrO (up to 3.63 wt. %), locally, P substitutes by S (up to 2.38 wt. % SO3).