mineral
Green Fluorite
Fluorite (Calcium Fluoride, CaF2)
Hardness of 4 on the Mohs scale, vitreous (glassy) luster, isometric/cubic crystal system, perfect octahedral cleavage, pale mint-green to deep green, translucent to transparent
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Physical properties
Hardness of 4 on the Mohs scale, vitreous (glassy) luster, isometric/cubic crystal system, perfect octahedral cleavage, pale mint-green to deep green, translucent to transparent
Formation & geological history
Formed in hydrothermal veins, often in association with lead, zinc, and silver ores, as well as in granite pegmatites and metamorphic rocks.
Uses & applications
Used as a flux in steel smelting, production of hydrofluoric acid and opal glass, optical lenses for microscopes and telescopes, lapidary carvings, and mineral collections.
Geological facts
Fluorite gave its name to the phenomenon of fluorescence because many specimens glow brightly under ultraviolet light. It comes in almost every color of the rainbow, often earning it the nickname 'the most colorful mineral in the world'.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its soft hardness (can be scratched by a steel nail/coin), four directions of perfect cleavage creating octahedral cleavage fragments, vitreous luster, and triangular/cubic growth patterns. Commonly found in China, Mexico, South Africa, the UK, and the USA (Illinois, Kentucky).
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