Fluorite is a mineral named by Agricola in 1529. It has a very wide range of colors, zoning is characteristic. Colorless crystals are rare. A typical fluorescent mineral, from the name of which the term "fluorescence" itself comes. Another name for the mineral is "fluorspar", because. it contains fluorine, which, when fluorite is dissolved in sulfuric acid, forms hydrofluoric acid, which leaves indelible matte spots on glassware in which fluorite is dissolved. hydrofluoric acid dissolves glass.
You can see fluorite stone for sale and buy it in the Minerals of Russia online store.
General | |
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Category | Halide mineral |
Formula (repeating unit) |
CaF2 |
IMA symbol | Flr |
Strunz classification | 3.AB.25 |
Crystal system | Isometric |
Crystal class | Hexoctahedral (m3m) H–M symbol: (4/m 3 2/m) (cF12) |
Space group | Fm3m (No. 225) |
Unit cell | a = 5.4626 Å; Z = 4 |
Identification | |
Color | Colorless, although samples are often deeply colored owing to impurities; Purple, lilac, golden-yellow, green, blue, pink, champagne, brown. |
Crystal habit | Well-formed coarse sized crystals; also nodular, botryoidal, rarely columnar or fibrous; granular, massive |
Twinning | Common on {111}, interpenetrant, flattened |
Cleavage | Octahedral, perfect on {111}, parting on {011} |
Fracture | Subconchoidal to uneven |
Tenacity | Brittle |
Mohs scale hardness | 4 (defining mineral) |
Luster | Vitreous |
Streak | White |
Diaphaneity | Transparent to translucent |
Specific gravity | 3.175–3.184; to 3.56 if high in rare-earth elements |
Optical properties | Isotropic; weak anomalous anisotropism |
Refractive index | 1.433–1.448 |
Fusibility | 3 |
Solubility | slightly water soluble and in hot hydrochloric acid |
Other characteristics | May be fluorescent, phosphorescent, thermoluminescent, and/or triboluminescent |