mineral

Fluorite Tower

Calcium Fluoride (CaF2)

Hardness: 4 on Mohs scale; Color: Purple, grey, and green banding; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal structure: Cubic; Cleavage: Perfect octahedral; Specific Gravity: 3.18

Hardness: 4 on Mohs scale
Color: Purple, grey, and green banding
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified May 10, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 4 on Mohs scale; Color: Purple, grey, and green banding; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal structure: Cubic; Cleavage: Perfect octahedral; Specific Gravity: 3.18

Formation & geological history

Formed through hydrothermal activity where hot, fluorine-rich fluids circulate through limestone or other carbonate rocks. It is found in veins and cavities alongside minerals like quartz and calcite.

Uses & applications

Commonly used in lapidary for decorative towers, spheres, and points. Industrially, it is used as a flux in steel making and for manufacturing hydrofluoric acid.

Geological facts

Fluorite is the origin of the term 'fluorescence' because many specimens glow under ultraviolet light. It is often called 'the most colorful mineral in the world' due to its wide range of hues.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its distinct cubic crystal habit and softness (can be scratched by a steel blade, unlike quartz). Commonly found in China, Mexico, and the Illinois-Kentucky Fluorspar District.