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Mineral

Fluorite

Also Known As Fluorspar
Halide Minerals

Fluorite, also called fluorspar, is the mineral form of calcium fluoride, CaF2, and belongs to the halide minerals. It crystallizes in the isometric cubic system, with four perfect cleavage planes that produce octahedral fragments, and the Mohs scale takes it as hardness 4. Pure fluorite is colorless and transparent, but impurities usually make it colorful, and it has been called the most colorful mineral in the world, with purple, blue, green, yellow or colorless the most common shades. It forms as a late-crystallizing mineral in felsic igneous rocks, in hydrothermal vein deposits in limestone and in granitic pegmatites. Industrially it is a flux in steel smelting and a major source of hydrogen fluoride. In 1852 it gave its name to the phenomenon of fluorescence, and it also gave its name to the element fluorine.

Facts
Formation Class
Halide mineral, most commonly forming in hydrothermal veins alongside minerals such as galena, sphalerite, quartz and barite. 1
Chemical Formula
CaF2 1
Hardness (Mohs)
4 1
Colour
Colourless or White 3
Colour
Grey or Black 3
Colour
Brown 3
Colour
Red or Pink 3
Colour
Orange or Yellow 3
Colour
Green 3
Colour
Blue or Purple 3
Lustre
Vitreous 3
Rarity
Common 4
Classification
Strunz Class
Halides 1
Crystal System
Cubic (Isometric) 1
Use
Ore or Metal Extraction 2
Wikipedia 'Fluorite' states this use (or use-bearing statement); earth5 pass.
Connections

Associated With

Mohs Hardness Scale, Concepts

The Mohs scale defines value 4 as fluorite.

Source Fluorite (Wikipedia)
Pegmatite, Materials

Fluorite named among the characteristic minerals of complex (rare-element) pegmatites.

Source Pegmatite (Wikipedia)

Caused By

Fractional Crystallization, Processes
Source Fluorite (Wikipedia)
Hydrothermal Circulation, Processes
Source Fluorite (Wikipedia)
Hydrothermal Mineral Deposition, Processes
Source EBSCO Research Starters: Hydrothermal solutions and mineralization
Additional Source Fluorite (Wikipedia)Occurrence and mining

Classified As

Halide Minerals, Subcategories

Crystallizes In System

Cubic Crystal System, Concepts

In Discipline

Economic Geology, Disciplines

Fluorite is economically significant as a steelmaking flux and as the primary industrial source of fluorine/hydrofluoric acid.

Source Fluorite (Wikipedia)
Mineralogy, Disciplines
Source Fluorite (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Mineral Species Of

Purple Fluorite

Also in Divinity Atlas: of this mineral species.

Sources
1. Fluorite (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Lead section
    Fluorite (also called fluorspar) is the mineral form of calcium fluoride, CaF2. It belongs to the halide minerals. It crystallizes in isometric cubic habit, although octahedral and more complex isometric forms are not uncommon.
  • Lead section
    Fluorite (also called fluorspar) is the mineral form of calcium fluoride, CaF2.
  • Lead section
    It crystallizes in isometric cubic habit, although octahedral and more complex isometric forms are not uncommon.
  • In Discipline: Economic Geology, Uses section
    Metallurgical grade fluorite (60-85% CaF2), the lowest of the three grades, has traditionally been used as a flux to lower the melting point of raw materials in steel production to aid the removal of impurities.
  • Caused By: Hydrothermal Circulation, Occurrence and mining
    Fluorite forms as a late-crystallizing mineral in felsic igneous rocks typically through hydrothermal activity.
  • Caused By: Fractional Crystallization, Occurrence and mining
    Fluorite forms as a late-crystallizing mineral in felsic igneous rocks typically through hydrothermal activity.
  • Caused By: Hydrothermal Mineral Deposition, Occurrence and mining
    It may occur as a vein deposit formed through hydrothermal activity particularly in limestones.
View the Source
2. Wikidata: Fluorite
Wikidata Q102151
3. minerals.net: Fluorite
minerals.net
  • Color field
    Fluorite occurs in all colors, including colorless, white, purple, blue, red, pink, orange, yellow, brown, green, gray, and black. May also be multicolored and banded.
  • Luster field
    Vitreous
View the Source
4. Geology.com: Fluorite
Geology.comDescription
Quote, Description
Fluorite is a common mineral in hydrothermal and carbonate rocks worldwide.
View the Source
Pegmatite (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Pegmatite, Complex pegmatite mineralogy section
Quote, Associated With: Pegmatite, Complex pegmatite mineralogy section
These complex pegmatites contain unusual minerals of these elements, such as beryl, spodumene, lepidolite, amblygonite, topaz, apatite, fluorite, tourmaline.
View the Source
EBSCO Research Starters: Hydrothermal solutions and mineralization
EBSCO Research StartersCaused By: Hydrothermal Mineral Deposition, Hydrothermal deposit types and gangue minerals
Quote, Caused By: Hydrothermal Mineral Deposition, Hydrothermal deposit types and gangue minerals
Calcite, fluorite, and barite are also common as gangue minerals.
View the Source
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