This mineral can have a variety of colors - from yellow and pink to blue, purple and even black. Sometimes, although very rarely, even colorless specimens are found. This fluorite is a stone that has a hundred faces and the same number of uses.
Fluorspar: physical properties
This mineral was known to people in one form or another in ancient times. It was also used in the smelting of ores, which helped to quickly and easily clean them of toxins. A synonym for fluorspar, which is used more often in mineralogy, is fluorite. Another name associated with the chemical formula is calcium fluoride.
Fluorspar is often a glass shine with cubic crystals. Coloring can vary: there are yellow, blue, blue, red-pink, black-violet and other tones. Crystals can also be colorless, although this is rare. The color is zonal - it is affected by heating, as well as radiation.
Fluorspar has very interesting properties: photo and thermoluminescence. In addition to the fact that the samples glow in the dark, radiation is also observed when exposed to high temperatures and ultraviolet radiation. At 1360 degrees Celsius, the mineral melts.
The name spar, despite its rather rich history, was given only in the 16th century by George Agricola, the "father" of mineralogy. Obviously, the name fluorite (from Latin fluores) was chosen either because of its fusibility, or because of its use in ore processing. By the way, fluorine got its name - fluorum - from stone, and not vice versa, because the chemical element was first extracted from this mineral. So, what else do we know about fluorite?
Formula and chemical properties
In its pure form, fluorite is CaF 2 . However, very often it contains various impurities, including rare earth elements. They have no serious effect on the properties of the stone, changing only the nature of its color.
Fluorite reacts with sulfuric acid, releasing poisonous hydrogen fluoride, which often when inhaled led to the death of experimenters who were looking for the legendary philosopher's stone. So the "fiendish" glory was fixed to the mineral.
With its help, other fluoride compounds are also obtained, as is the element in its pure form. In addition, hydrofluoric acid is one of the most sought after products .
Varieties
Fluorite is a stone with a hundred faces, because it happens in almost any color and shade. According to them, as a rule, some of its varieties are distinguished:
- Antozonite - characterized by a characteristic dark violet color, contains a lot of elemental fluorine, radioactive;
- chlorophane is a variety of green color, due to the presence of samarium ions in its composition it is also called a fake emerald;
- ratovkid - characterized by a color from purple to blue-violet and earthy or fine-grained structure;
- yttrofluorite - due to the substitution of yttrium calcium and exposure to radiation, it acquires yellow hues.
Traditionally, fluorspar was mistaken for more noble minerals: topazes, emeralds, amethysts, etc. Nevertheless, it is easy to distinguish it. Fluorite is a stone that is not hard, so you can easily scratch it with a needle or knife. On the Mohs scale, the number 4 corresponds to it. This feature makes it difficult to process the mineral, especially when it comes to very delicate work.
Production
Fluorspar is one of the most common minerals. Its deposits are often found in dolomites, limestones, and hydrothermal ores. It is accompanied by some other stones: quartz, galena, calcite, gypsum, apatite, topaz, tourmaline, etc.
The largest known deposits are located in the southeast of Germany, in England, almost everywhere in Central Asia, in China, the USA, Central America, as well as in Transbaikalia, Buryatia, and Primorsky Krai. Usually there are specimens of 5-6, less often up to 20 centimeters. The largest exporters of the mineral are Mongolia, China and Mexico. Also an important supplier of optical fluorites is Kazakhstan.
Using
As already mentioned, people from ancient times knew the mineral fluorspar. They also found application for him quickly enough: they made small items of utensils, household items, and all kinds of jewelry from him. For example, in ancient Rome, vases from it were called murinous and valued very highly.
With the development of metal processing, it was noted that the mineral fluorite is an excellent flux, that is, it lowers the melting point of ores and simplifies the separation of slag.
Later, with the accumulation of some knowledge of chemistry, they also began to use it to obtain pure fluorine and its compounds. In particular, fluorite (formula CaF 2 ) is still used as a feedstock for the reaction, the result of which is hydrofluoric acid. It is also used in many industries, for example, in ceramics and structures that simulate stained glass. Thus, it is not easy to overestimate the value of the fluorite mineral.
In addition, it is now necessary for the manufacture of enamels and glazes, it is used in high-precision specialized optics, the construction of quantum light generators, and, of course, some specimens are appreciated by jewelers. With proper processing, the beauty of the gem increases many times, so that it can argue with its more noble and rare counterparts.
Jewelcrafting
Fluorite is a mineral that has often been presented as more expensive and rarer stones - citrine, emerald, amethyst, etc. However, experts have always been difficult to fool. Well, this gem was not used as inserts in jewelry so often: the softness and the complexity of processing resulting from this made it simply meaningless. The exception was multicolor fluorites, combining a large number of shades. However, for the manufacture of inexpensive jewelry with simple processing, it is still used now.
Mystical and magical properties
Like many other minerals, fluorite is credited with the ability to heal certain diseases and alleviate conditions. So, lithotherapists advise patients with headaches, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis to massage products from this stone. It is also believed that it helps to get rid of weather dependence and chronic fatigue, reduce stress, normalize sleep.
As for esotericism, truly amazing properties are attributed to fluorite: it is believed that it is a powerful stimulator of spiritual development. It allows you to shift the emphasis in your life from material resources to the field of intellectual and emotional sphere. It is believed that fluorite talismans protect against ill-wishers and increase the ability to analytical thinking with a common powerful positive energy.