Phosphate mineral


Phosphate minerals are minerals that contain the tetrahedrally coordinated phosphate anion, sometimes with arsenate and vanadate substitutions, along with chloride, fluoride, and hydroxide anions, that also fit into the crystal structure.
The phosphate class of minerals is a large and diverse group, however, only a few species are relatively common.

Applications

Phosphate rock has high concentration of phosphate minerals, most commonly from the apatite group of minerals. It is the major resource mined to produce phosphate fertilizers for the agricultural industry. Phosphate is also used in animal feed supplements, food preservatives, anti-corrosion agents, cosmetics, fungicides, ceramics, water treatment and metallurgy.
The production of fertilizer is the largest source responsible for minerals mined for their phosphate content.
Phosphate minerals are often used to control rust, and to prevent corrosion on ferrous materials applied with electrochemical conversion coatings.

Examples

Phosphate minerals include:

IMA-CNMNC proposes a new hierarchical scheme. This [list">Nickel–Strunz classification -08- phosphates

IMA-CNMNC proposes a new hierarchical scheme. This [list uses it to modify the classification of Nickel–Strunz.
  • Abbreviations:
  • *"*" – discredited.
  • *"?" – questionable/doubtful.
  • *"REE" – Rare-earth element
  • *"PGE" – Platinum-group element
  • *03.C Aluminofluorides, 06 Borates, 08 Vanadates, 09 Silicates:
  • **Neso: insular
  • **Soro: grouping
  • **Cyclo: ring
  • **Ino: chain
  • **Phyllo: sheet
  • **Tekto: three-dimensional framework
  • Nickel–Strunz code scheme: NN.XY.##x
  • *NN: Nickel–Strunz mineral class number
  • *X: Nickel–Strunz mineral division letter
  • *Y: Nickel–Strunz mineral family letter
  • *##x: Nickel–Strunz mineral/group number, x add-on letter

Class: phosphates