mineral

Fluorite

Calcium Fluoride (CaF2)

Hardness: 4 on Mohs scale. Color: Bi-color/multi-color showing purple and green zoning. Luster: Vitreous (glass-like). Crystal Structure: Isometric/Cubic. Cleavage: Perfect octahedral in four directions. Specific Gravity: 3.18.

Hardness: 4 on Mohs scale
Color: Bi-color/multi-color showing purple and green zoning
Luster: Vitreous (glass-like)

Identified July 22, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms primarily as a hydrothermal vein mineral in igneous and sedimentary environments, often precipitated from fluorine-rich circulating fluids.

Uses & applications

Used as a flux in steel making, source of fluorine for hydrofluoric acid, in optical lenses, and widely carved or cut into gemstones and decorative specimens for collectors.

Geological facts

Fluorite exhibits fluorescence under ultraviolet light, a property named directly after the mineral itself. It is famous for displaying distinct multi-colored color zones in single crystals.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its softness (can be scratched by glass/steel), cubic or octahedral cleavage planes, vitreous luster, and classic purple-green color zoning. Commonly found in China, Mexico, South Africa, and the UK.