Fluorite
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Archaeodontosaurus" title="User:Archaeodontosaurus">Didier Descouens</a> (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mineral NameFluorite
Chemical FormulaCaF₂
Mohs Hardness4
Crystal Systemcubic
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavageperfect octahedral (four directions)
Fracturesubconchoidal
Specific Gravity3.18
Colorsblue, greenish-blue, colorless, purple, yellow
Transparencytransparent
Type LocalityLe Burg Mine (Le Burc Mine), Alban and Le Fraysse, Tarn, Midi-Pyrénées, France
Mineral GroupHalides
Usesflux in steelmaking, hydrofluoric acid production, optical lenses, jewelry, collector
Associated Mineralsquartz, calcite, barite, galena, sphalerite
Raritycommon
Description
This specimen features a cluster of intergrown, transparent to translucent cubic fluorite crystals, displaying beautiful shades of blue and greenish-blue, with smaller white quartz crystals interspersed.
Geological Context
Fluorite typically forms in hydrothermal veins, often associated with metallic ore deposits, and can also be found in granites, pegmatites, and sedimentary rocks.
