mineral

Rainbow Fluorite

Fluorite (Calcium Fluoride, CaF2)

Hardness: 4 (Mohs scale); Color: Banded purple, green, blue, and clear; Luster: Vitreous (glass-like); Crystal structure: Isometric (cubic); Cleavage: Perfect octahedral; Specific gravity: 3.1 to 3.3.

Hardness: 4 (Mohs scale)
Color: Banded purple, green, blue, and clear
Luster: Vitreous (glass-like)

Identified July 18, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through hydrothermal activity in veins where hot, mineral-rich fluids circulate through fractures in limestone or igneous rocks. It often occurs as a gangue mineral associated with metallic ores.

Uses & applications

Used primarily as a flux in steelmaking (fluorspar), in the manufacture of hydrofluoric acid, in high-performance telescope lenses, and extensively in jewelry, carvings, and metaphysical collecting.

Geological facts

Fluorite is the most colorful mineral in the world. It is the defining mineral for hardness 4 on the Mohs scale. Many specimens exhibit fluorescence under ultraviolet light, a phenomenon actually named after this mineral.

Field identification & locations

Identified in the field by its distinct color banding, 4 directions of perfect cleavage, and relative softness (it can be scratched by a knife but not a copper penny). Common sources include China, Mexico, South Africa, and the USA (Illinois/Kentucky).