Fluorite

Fluorite which is also known as fluorspar is the mineral form of calcium fluoride, CaF2. It belongs to the halide minerals category. It forms crystals in isometric cubic habit, although octahedral and more complex forms are also common. Mohs scale of mineral hardness, based on scratch Hardness comparison, defines value 4 as Fluorite.

Occurrence

Fluorite is a widely found mineral that occurs globally with large deposits in over 9,000 areas. It may be found as a vein deposit, especially together with metallic minerals, where it often forms a part of the gangue (the surrounding "host-rock" in which valuable minerals occur) and may be associated with sphalerite, galena, quartz, barite, and calcite. In the deposits of hydrothermal origin it is a common mineral and has also been noted as a primary mineral in granites and other igneous rocks and is found in minor quantities in dolostone and limestone.

Uses

Fluorite is a colorful mineral, both in visible and ultraviolet spectrum, and the stone is used as sornamental and lapidary. Industrially, fluorite is used for smelting as a flux, and in the production of certain enamels and glasses.Fluoride which is used for hydrofluoric acid manufacture is itself derived from the highest grades of fluorite. Transparent fluorite lenses are optically clear and have low dispersion, so lenses made from it have less chromatic aberration, which makes them valuable in the manufacture of microscopes and telescopes. Fluorite optics are also used in the mid-infrared and far-ultraviolet spectrum, where conventional glasses are too light absorbent for practical use.