mineral

Green Fluorite

Calcium Fluoride (CaF2)

Hardness: 4 on Mohs scale; Color: Pale to deep green; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal structure: Isometric/Cubic; Cleavage: Perfect octahedral in four directions; Specific Gravity: 3.18

Hardness: 4 on Mohs scale
Color: Pale to deep green
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified March 21, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 4 on Mohs scale; Color: Pale to deep green; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal structure: Isometric/Cubic; Cleavage: Perfect octahedral in four directions; Specific Gravity: 3.18

Formation & geological history

Formed through hydrothermal activity, often occurring in veins where hot, mineral-rich fluids circulate through fractures in limestone or other host rocks. It is common in deposits of varying ages from Paleozoic to more recent geologic eras.

Uses & applications

Used industrially as a flux for smelting steel and aluminum, in the manufacture of opalescent glass, and as a source of fluorine. In the collector and metaphysical markets, it is popular for tumbling, carving, and jewelry.

Geological facts

Fluorite is the origin of the term 'fluorescence' because many specimens glow under UV light. It is often called the 'most colorful mineral in the world' due to the huge variety of impurity-driven colors it can exhibit.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its 4-way cleavage (forming double-pyramids when broken) and its relative softness (can be scratched by a steel knife but not a copper penny). Common locations include China, Mexico, South Africa, and the Illinois-Kentucky fluorspar district in the USA.