Synonym:
Phosphates.
Clades:
Lapidae.
Use: fertilizer; in animal feed supplements; food preservatives; anti-corrosion agents; cosmetics; fungicides; ceramics; water treatment; metallurgy; control of rust, prevention of corrosion on ferrous materials applied with electrochemical conversion coatings.
MineralogyPhosphates contain the tetrahedrally coordinated phosphate (PO4) anion along sometimes with arsenate (AsO4) and vanadate (VO4) substitutions, and chloride (Cl), fluoride (F), and hydroxide (OH) anions that also fit into the crystal structure.
This is a large and diverse group, however, only a few species are relatively common.
Phosphate rock has high concentration of phosphates, most commonly of the
Apatites.