Minerals and methods for their production and use

Substantially homogeneous, bioactive and biocompatible calcium phosphate that is an oxidation-reduction product produced by:

• preparing an aqueous solution of a phosphorus oxoacid and a calcium nitrate;
• heating said solution to a temperature of about 250° C. or below under conditions of temperature and pressure effective to initiate an oxidation-reduction reaction between the oxoacid and the calcium nitrate;
• said reaction evolving nitrogen oxide gas;
• and
• said calcium phosphate precipitating from said solution wherein said calcium phosphate is comprised of individual crystallites have a crystal size of about 1 μm or below.

An alkaline earth phosphate salt of an oxidation-reduction product formed by:

• preparing an aqueous solution comprising
• an alkaline earth cation;
• at least one oxidizing agent;
• and
• at least one precursor anion oxidizable by said oxidizing agent to form a
• phosphate;
• and
• heating said solution under conditions of temperature and pressure effective to initiate an oxidation-reduction reaction between said oxidizing agent and the precursor anion, said reaction evolving at least one gaseous product;
• and giving rise to said phosphate, said alkaline earth metal phosphate salt precipitating from said solution wherein said alkaline earth metal phosphate salt is substantially homogeneous and has a substantially fine crystal size of about 1 μm or below, wherein said alkaline earth metal is calcium.