ESR spectroscopy was used to identify new radicals in natural sediment
ary carbonate-containing F,OH-apatites with P-31 Splitting for phosphi
nyl (PL2), phosphoryl (PL3), and phosphoranyl radicals (PL4). The ESR
spectral parameters were determined and compared with those for the PO
32- sites previously studied in apatite. The correlation of the new si
tes with the presence of hydrocarbon groups in the samples studied, es
tablished by chemical and thermal analysis and IR spectroscopy, indica
ted that the new radicals are organophosphorus complexes.