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Chemical Formula: CaF2
Mineral Name: Fluorite
Color: light green, blue, yellow, brown, and
colorless
Hardness: 4
Specific Gravity: 3.18
Fluorite, also called fluor, fluorspar is a mineral
often fluorescent in ultraviolet light. Massive
fluorite may resemble calcite, but it is heavier and
does not effervesce when treated with hydrochloric
acid. It is distinguished from gypsum and quartz by
its hardness. Fluorite deposits form under a wide
variety of conditions: as veins produced by
hydrothermal alteration, as beds and cavities in
sedimentary rocks, in hot spring deposits, and in
pegmatites.
Fluorite, calcium fluoride is a major industrial
mineral used as a flux in steel making as well as in
the preparation of hydrofluoric acid and in the
ceramics industry. Such as in glasses and enamels. It
is used in hydrofluoric acid, enamel and glass
industries, refrigerating fluids, portland cement,
insecticides and to retard tooth decay. Fluorite is
also used as a source of fluorine for hydrofluoric
acid and fluorinated water.
