fluorite - teaching hand specimen of a mineral often associated with metallic ores - massive fluorite

fluorite - calcium fluoride: CaF₂

Fluorite is frequently a gangue mineral with metallic ores. “Gangue” describes uneconomic minerals that are associated with ores. This is massive fluorite that capped a vein that is currently being mined.

Used as a flux in the manufacture of steel, fluorite derives its name from the Latin fluere, to flow, since it melts at a low temperature compared with other minerals with which it is confused.

Circa 1852, Sir George Stokes, mathematics professor at the University of Cambridge, coined the term fluorescence, from the property of fluorite from some locations.

Fluorite varies widely in color, most commonly Coke-bottle green, yellow, bluish green and purple. Its hardness is 4 on the Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness.

Good fluorite has been difficult to obtain. Either the specimens are raggedy by the time we see them or they are far too expensive, or both. This fluorite was discovered in 2022 as boulders on a hillside near Mapimi, Durango, Mexico, that were actually the top of a vein. These specimens were carefully broken from the boulders and occasionally have some country rock attached. The miners are currently working the vein and we are not sure if we will be able to get more.

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