Enter our Virtual Gallery of Fluorite Mineral Specimens
MINERALMINERS.COM®- Your Personal 'Link' Direct to the Mines!TM
Fluorite (CaF2) commonly occurs as transparent crystals in a great variety of colors. The hardness of fluorite however is only 4 on mohs' scale, which means that it can be easily scratched with a knife. For this reason, fluorite is not commonly fashioned into gems, since it is not durable enough to maintain an unblemished polish with normal jewelry use.
Fluorite is a popular lapidary material and is often fashioned into spheres, dishes, vases, carvings and other ornamental objects.
Fluorite is a relatively common mineral occuring typically in vein deposits. In hydrothermal veins it can be the only mineral present, although it more commonly occurs as an accessory mineral sometimes with quartz, calcite, dolomite, barite, galena, sphalerite and other lead, silver or uranium minerals. Also as an accessory mineral in some pegmatites and in pneumatolitic veins & griesens with accesories topaz, apatite, zinnwaldite, lepidolite, tourmaline and cassiterite. Also common in veins, cavities and fractures within syenites, feldspathoidal rocks and carbonate sediments.
Fluorite is characterized by its relatively low hardness, cubic crystal habit,
cleavage and color.
Return to the Index of Fluorite Information Topics
Fluorite is also refered to as fluor spar. The name fluorite is from the latin fluere meaning to flow, refering to its use as a flux in smelting and to the fact that it is relatively easy to melt.
Since Roman times, a massive crystalline variety of fluorite known as Blue John or Derbyshire spar has been used for making vases and other ornamental objects. It typically had a banded pattern of blue, violet and purple. This material was mined in the district of Derbyshire, England which reportedly has now been mined out.
Fluorite from other sources is used today as a lapidary material to fashion into spheres, dishes,
vases, carvings and other ornamental objects. Its perfect cleavage makes fluorite
susceptible to being damaged if struck upon a hard surface, hence its use in jewelry is very limited.
It also is used as a flux in making steel, in the preparation of hydrofluoric
acid, and in the manufacture of certain glasses, enamels and porcelains.
Clear and colorless fluorite is sometimes used in
optical equipment, but as this quality is rare in nature it is usually
produced synthetically.
The astrological signs of fluorite are Capricorn and Pisces.
Fluorite is said to enhance intuition, creativity, concentration and one's sense of order. It is also said to promote healing, and to facilitate healing work being done with other minerals, and to give protection against many types of diseases. It is also said to help release negative thoughts, and to give protection against them.
For more in-depth metaphysical information, see our Metaphysical Books section.