mineral

Fluorite

Calcium Fluoride (CaF2)

Hardness of 4 on the Mohs scale, varies widely in color from purple, green, yellow, and blue to colorless, vitreous luster, isometric crystal system typically forming cubic crystals, perfect octahedral cleavage, specific gravity of 3.18

Identified August 2, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms in hydrothermal veins, often associated with metallic ores like lead and zinc, as well as in cavities in sedimentary rocks such as limestone and dolomite

Uses & applications

Used in metallurgy as a flux, in the manufacture of opalescent glass and enamel, the production of hydrofluoric acid, and widely collected as mineral specimens or carved into ornamental objects

Geological facts

Fluorite is the mineral namesake for the phenomenon of 'fluorescence', as many specimens glow strongly under ultraviolet light due to impurities like yttrium

Field identification & locations

Easily identified by its characteristic cubic crystal habit and lower hardness (can be scratched easily with a knife, unlike quartz), commonly found in countries like China, Mexico, South Africa, and the UK