Fluorite Mineral Data

Fluorite Mineral Data +

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General Fluorite Information

Chemical Formula:

CaF2

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 78.07 gm

Calcium 51.33 % Ca 71.83 % CaO

Fluorine 48.67 % F 48.67 % F

- % F -20.49 % -O=F₂

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

CaF₂

Environment:

Low temperature vein deposits.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) Prehistoric

Locality:

Common world wide. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named after its composition containing fluorine (Latin, fluere = "to flow").

Synonym:

Fluor Spar

ICSD 60559

PDF 35-816

Yttrocerite-Y

Fluorite Image

Images:

Fluorite

Comments: Cubic fluorite crystals with octahedral galena crystals. The largest crystal is 2.1 cm across. Note the exceptional fluorescence of these crystals.
Location: Rogerley Mine, in Weardale, England. Scale: 7.8 x 5.5.
© John Veevaert

Images:

Fluorite Creedite

Comments: Well-developed, prismatic, reddish creedite crystals on green fluorite.
Location: Mina Navidad, Rodeo, Durango, Mexico. Scale: 9 x 5 x 5.3 cm.
© Fabre Minerals

Images:

Fluorite

Comments: Red-orange octahedral fluorite crystals on an albite matrix with well defined edges and faces.
Location: Pointe Kurz (3600 m altitude), Mont Blanc Massif, Haute-Savoie, France. Scale: Crystal size is 2.1 x 1.5 cm.
© Fabre Minerals

Fluorite Crystallography

Cell Dimensions:

a = 5.463, Z = 4; V = 163.04 Den(Calc)= 3.18

Crystal System:

Isometric - HexoctahedralH-M Symbol (4/m 3 2/m) Space Group: F m3m

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 1.931(1), 3.153(0.94), 1.647(0.35),

Forms:

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Forms: [ 1 0 0]

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Crystal Structure:

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Speziale S , Duffy T S , Physics and Chemistry of Minerals , 29 (2002) p.465-472, Single-crystal elastic constants of fluorite (CaF2) to 9.3 GPa, Sample: P = 0 GPa

View Additional jPOWD Structure files for Fluorite
[1] [10] [11] [12] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

Physical Properties of Fluorite

Cleavage:

[111] Perfect, [111] Perfect, [111] Perfect

Color:

White, Yellow, Green, Red, Blue.

Density:

3.01 - 3.25, Average = 3.13

Diaphaniety:

Transparent to subtranslucent

Fracture:

Uneven - Flat surfaces (not cleavage) fractured in an uneven pattern.

Habit:

Crystalline - Coarse - Occurs as well-formed coarse sized crystals.

Habit:

Disseminated - Occurs in small, distinct particles dispersed in matrix.

Habit:

Massive - Granular - Common texture observed in granite and other igneous rock.

Hardness:

4 - Fluorite

Luminescence:

Fluorescent, Short UV=blue, Long UV=blue.

Luster:

Vitreous (Glassy)

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Fluorite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= 0.204 (Poor) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= 0.216 (Poor) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.1362,KPDmeas= 0.1383,KC= 0.1737

Optical Data:

Isotropic, n=1.433.

Calculated Properties of Fluorite

Electron Density:

r_electron=3.05 gm/cc
note: r_Fluorite=3.13 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.00069
Boson Index = 0.99931

Photoelectric:

PE_Fluorite= 6.67 barns/electron
U=PE_Fluorite x r_electron= 20.34 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Fluorite is Not Radioactive

Fluorite Classification

Dana Class:

9.2.1.1 (9)Anhydrous and Hydrated Halides

(9.2)where A (X)2

(9.2.1)Dana Group

9.2.1.1 Fluorite CaF2 F m3m 4/m 3 2/m

9.2.1.2 Frankdicksonite BaF2 F m3m 4/m 3 2/m

9.2.1.3 Tveitite-(Y) Ca1-xYxF2x,x~0.3 Unk Mono

Strunz Class:

III/A.08-10 III - Halogenides

III/A - Simple Halogenides, without water Metal : Halogen = 1 : 2, 1 : 3

III/A.08 - Fluorite series and related compounds

III/A.08-10 Fluorite CaF2 F m3m 4/m 3 2/m

III/A.08-20 Frankdicksonite BaF2 F m3m 4/m 3 2/m

III/A.08-25 Haleniusite-(La)! (La,Ce)OF F m3m 4/m 3 2/m

III/A.08-30 Tveitite-(Y) Ca1-xYxF2x,x~0.3 Unk Mono

III/A.08-40 Gagarinite-(Y) NaCaY(F,Cl)6 P 3 3

III/A.08-45 Zajacite-(Ce) Na(REExCa1-x)(REEyCa1-y)F6where(xney) P 3 3

III/A.08-50 Laurelite Pb7F12Cl2 P 6 6

III/A.08-60 Coccinite* HgI2(?) P 4₁/nmc 4/m 2/m 2/m

Other Fluorite Information

References:

NAME( Emsley91) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Mason68)

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Fluorite

CaF2
Dana No: 9.2.1.1 Strunz No: III/A.08-10
Locality:

Notes: