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Fluorite

Fluorite

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.

Pure fluorite is colorless and transparent, both in visible and ultraviolet light, but impurities usually make it a colorful mineral and the stone has ornamental and lapidary uses. Industrially, fluorite is used as a flux for smelting, and in the production of certain glasses and enamels. The purest grades of fluorite are a source of fluoride for hydrofluoric acid manufacture, which is the intermediate source of most fluorine-containing fine chemicals.

In 1852, fluorite gave its name to the phenomenon of fluorescence, which is prominent in fluorites from certain locations, due to certain impurities in the crystal. Fluorite also gave the name to its constitutive element fluorine.[3] Currently, the word "fluorspar" is most commonly used for fluorite as an industrial and chemical commodity, while "fluorite" is used mineralogically and in most other senses.

Locality

Unknown

Fluorite

Streak

White

Hardness

Formula

4

CaF2

Habit

Corse sized crystals, nodular, botryoidal, columnar, fibrous, granular

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