Apatite is an uncommon gemstone that is usually a shade of green. It is very soft (5 on the Moh’s scale) so it is easily scratched relative to most other gemstones. Apatite is
experiencing an increase in popularity since the late 1990′s due to the discovery and craze around Paraiba tourmaline. Some apatite gemstones are able to achieve neon hues of blueish greens that are reminiscent of the Paraiba tourmaline colors. Apatite is sometimes marketed as “Paraiba apatite” though this term is a bit misleading. Apatite is also commonly found in olive green hues and in more opaque stones that are saturated in color and larger in size – these are usually made into beads or cabochons.
