Re: Bones, Rocks and UV

Hi:
Just a small correction, Fluoroapatite is by far more common in natural
mineral specimens.


-- 
John Passaneau
Penn State University
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

"Landy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > My first question is why would this work?  Bone is essentially calcium
> > carbonate.
>
> Incorrect - bone is not calcium carbonate - it is calcium phosphate -
which
> would make it the equivalent of the mineral apatite.  Apatite also
> fluoresces - but I think some varieties fluoresce more than others (e.g.
> Fluor- and Chlor-apatite as opposed to the normal hydroxy-apatite).  I
don't
> know how this all relates to the structure of bone though!
>
> cheers
> Bill
>
>