mineral
Green Fluorite
Calcium Fluoride (CaF2)
Hardness 4 on Mohs scale; pale to mint green color; vitreous (glassy) luster; cubic crystal system; perfect octahedral cleavage; specific gravity 3.18.
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Physical properties
Hardness 4 on Mohs scale; pale to mint green color; vitreous (glassy) luster; cubic crystal system; perfect octahedral cleavage; specific gravity 3.18.
Formation & geological history
Formed through hydrothermal activity, often precipitating from fluorine-rich geothermal fluids in veins alongside metallic ores like lead and zinc.
Uses & applications
Used in metallurgy as a flux (fluor-spar), in the optics industry for high-performance lenses, for manufacturing hydrofluoric acid, and widely carved or kept raw as decorative specimens and gemstones.
Geological facts
Fluorite gave its name to the phenomenon of fluorescence because many specimens glow brightly under ultraviolet light due to trace impurities.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive 4-directional cleavage, vitreous luster, and hardness of exactly 4 on the Mohs scale (it can be scratched by a steel knife or copper penny). Major deposits exist in China, Mexico, South Africa, and the USA (Illinois, Kentucky).
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