mineral

Fluorite on Matrix

Calcium Fluoride (CaF2)

Hardness: 4 on Mohs scale. Color: Pale translucent green to yellowish-grey embedded crystal. Luster: Vitreous to sub-vitreous. Cleavage: Perfect isometric/octahedral cleavage evident in cracked sections.

Hardness: 4 on Mohs scale
Color: Pale translucent green to yellowish-grey embedded crystal
Luster: Vitreous to sub-vitreous

Identified July 22, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed via hydrothermal activity where fluorine-bearing fluids permeate host rock fractures and cavities, precipitating fluorite alongside quartz and calcite minerals.

Uses & applications

Fluorite is used as a flux in steelmaking, in the production of hydrofluoric acid, in high-performance optical lenses, and as a popular collectible mineral specimen.

Geological facts

Fluorite gave its name to the phenomenon of fluorescence because many specimens glow under ultraviolet light due to trace element impurities like europium.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its cubic crystal habits, perfect cleavage, soft hardness (can be scratched by steel), and frequent association with hydrothermal quartz matrix. Common in England, China, Mexico, and USA.