FLUORITE

The name fluorite is from the Latin fluere, meaning to flow, referring to the ease with which it melts. Fluorite occurs in mineral deposits of widely different character. It occurs most commonly as a vein mineralization in some cases as the principal constituent, in others as a gangue mineral with lead and silver ores, and generally associated with quartz, calcite, dolomite, and barite. It also occurs in cavities in dolostones and limestones, and is commonly associated with minerals such as celestite, anhydrite, gypsum, dolomite, sulfur, and millerite. Fluorite is also characteristic (1) of some greisens; (2) of high-temperature cassiterite veins associated with topaz, tourmaline, lepidolite, apatite, or quartz; (3) as a late hydrothermal mineral in cavities and joints in granite; and (4) in pegmatites.

The occurrences of fluorite are widespread. The principal producing countries are the United States, Germany, Mexico, Russia, Canada, England, and Italy. Large quantities of fluorite are used in metallurgical operations as a flux (especially in the manufacture of open-hearth steel and in the smelting of aluminum) and in the manufacture of chemicals. A small amount of colorless, transparent fluorite is used for optical purposes.

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