Editing Apatite (section)

=== Use as an ore mineral ===
[[File:Thin section microscopy Siilinjärvi R301 6170 apatite.jpg|thumb|Apatite in [[Optical mineralogy|photomicrographs]] of a thin section from the [[Siilinjärvi apatite mine]]. In cross-polarized light on left, plane-polarized light on right.]]
[[File:Siilinjärvi Särkijärvi pit.jpg|thumb|An apatite mine in [[Siilinjärvi]], Finland.]]
Apatite is occasionally found to contain significant amounts of [[rare-earth elements]] and can be used as an [[ore]] for those metals.<ref>Salvi S, Williams-Jones A. 2004. Alkaline granite-syenite deposits. In Linnen RL, Samson IM, editors. Rare element geochemistry and mineral deposits. St. Catharines (ON): Geological Association of Canada. pp. 315–41 {{ISBN|1-897095-08-2}}</ref>  This is preferable to traditional [[Rare-earth mineral|rare-earth ores]] such as [[monazite]],<ref>Haxel G, Hedrick J, Orris J. 2006. [http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2002/fs087-02/fs087-02.pdf Rare earth elements critical resources for high technology]. Reston (VA): United States Geological Survey. USGS Fact Sheet: 087-02.</ref> as apatite is not very radioactive and does not pose an [[environmental hazard]] in [[mine tailings]].
However, apatite often contains [[uranium]] and its equally radioactive [[decay chain|decay-chain]] nuclides.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/1009f/report.pdf|title=Glossary of Uranium- and Thorium-Bearing Minerals (Third Edition) |author=U. S. Atomic Energy Commission}}</ref>

The town of [[Apatity]] in the Arctic North of Russia was named for its mining operations for these ores.

Apatite is an ore mineral at the [[Hoidas Lake]] rare-earth project.<ref>[http://www.gwmg.ca/projects/hoidas-lake Great Western Minerals Group Ltd. | Projects – Hoidas Lake, Saskatchewan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080701015402/http://www.gwmg.ca/projects/hoidas-lake |date=2008-07-01 }}. Gwmg.ca (2010-01-27). Retrieved on 2011-07-24.</ref>