Formation of strontium peroxy-hydroxyapatite solid solution Sr 10 (PO 4 ) 6 (O 2 ) x (OH) 2-2x was studied on annealing the hydroxyapatite in the temperature range 900-1350°C in oxygen, air, and argon atmosphere. The redox process was found to display unprecedented features: (i) the peroxide content increased with raising temperature, (ii) the peroxide content remained substantial even at a low oxygen pressure of 1.013 Pa, (iii) the peroxide content was extremely persistent, and even at a temperature of 1350°C in oxygen atmosphere the peroxide groups substituted more than two-third of the original hydroxide groups. Chemical processes consistent with these features are suggested. In the UV/Vis spectrum, an absorption peak at 300 nm was recorded, which was attributed to an electronic transition in the peroxide ion, since its intensity depended linearly on the peroxide content.