Fluorite

One of the most collectible non-gem minerals on Earth. It’s calcium fluoride, the primary source of fluorine, a highly reactive element and an important industrial chemical. Fluoridated toothpaste and water get their fluorine from this mineral.

Fluorite is found throughout the world. Major deposits are in the U.S. (particularly Illinois & Kentucky), Mexico, South Africa, England, Spain, and France. But collectible minerals come from even minor, non-economic deposits.

Crystals have perfect cleavage (they break really easily!) and are soft – 4 on Moh’s hardness scale. That combination makes the cut stones a bad choice for jewelry. One tiny bump and it can be scratched or crack. Drop it and it’s history!

Fluorite occurs in virtually every color and hue but in its purest form is completely transparent. Purple, blue, yellow and green are the most sought crystals. The cube is the most common form, but other shapes include octahedron, tetrahexahedron, dodecahedron, etc. – and combinations thereof!

I have written extensively about the fluorite deposits of southern Illinois and western Kentucky (see my bibliography). The “fluorspar district” has a dedicated page, so the specimens shown here are from other locations.

Link to Photos from Non-U.S. Locations

Colorado

Nancy Hanks claim, Unaweep Canyon in Mesa County, is a mine known for green fluorite.

Wagon Wheel Gap Mine, Saguache County, is well known for fluorite,

Purple cubes - a more classic crystal habit and color, Wagon Wheel Gap Mine, Saguache County, Colorado — Purple cubes – a more classic crystal habit and color

Stalactitic fluorite composed of a myriad of tiny cubes, Wagon Wheel Gap Mine, Saguache County, Colorado — Stalactitic fluorite composed of a myriad of tiny cubes

Cleavage chunk of fluorite showing bands of purple and white with green in the center. Wagon Wheel Gap Mine, Saguache County, Colorado — Cleavage chunk of fluorite showing bands of purple and white with green in the center.

Complex intergrown cubes, Wagon Wheel Gap Mine, Saguache County, Colorado — Complex intergrown cubes

Large white fluorite cubes from Stope 1. Wagon Wheel Gap Mine, Saguache County, Colorado — Large white fluorite cubes from Stope 1.

Indiana

Mathes Quarry, Harrison Co. (currently owned by Vulcan Materials which has ceased operations)

Corydon Quarry, Harrison Co. – is best known for pink dolomite and calcite, but also has a fair amount of fluorite scattered in pockets. Fluorite is usually the first mineral to form in pockets and is often partially or completely covered by later dolomite.

Fluorite in small vugs without other associated minerals. Corydon Quarry, Harrison Co., Indiana — Fluorite in small vugs without other associated minerals.

Kentucky

Irvington Quarry, Breckenridge Co. – perhaps the best fluorite outside of the western Kentucky fluorspar district and the central Kentucky Mineral District. Purple and yellow cubes in a specific layer that is rarely mined these days.

Fluorite surrounded by calcite, Irvington Quarry, Breckenridge Co., Kentucky — Fluorite surrounded by calcite

Yellow fluorite - fluorescent & phosphorescent in UV, with dolomite, Irvington Quarry, Breckenridge Co., Kentucky — Yellow fluorite – fluorescent & phosphorescent in UV, with dolomite

Muldraugh dome in Meade County, at Fort Knox – Geodes bearing isolated, usually etched, fluorite cubes occur in geodes found near the center of the geological a structure.

A fuzzy, partially dissolved fluorite cube (about 1 cm wide) from a geode. A real oddity! Muldraugh dome in Meade County, at Fort Knox, KY — A fuzzy, partially dissolved fluorite cube (about 1 cm wide) from a geode. A real oddity!

Hayden Mine (East Faircloth vein), Mundy’s Landing, Woodford Co. near the Kentucky River. These photos were from a summer 1989 collecting trip. Photos inside the mine will eventually be posted.

Fluorite and barite, Hayden Mine (East Faircloth vein), Mundy's Landing, Woodford Co., Kentucky — Fluorite and barite

Almost gray fluorite crystals with mounds of barite that resemble that mineral from Elmwood mines in Tennessee. Hayden Mine (East Faircloth vein), Mundy's Landing, Woodford Co., Kentucky — Almost gray fluorite crystals with mounds of barite that resemble that mineral from Elmwood mines in Tennessee.

Fluorite cockscomb around barite, Hayden Mine (East Faircloth vein), Mundy's Landing, Woodford Co., Kentucky — Fluorite cockscomb around barite

Sometimes you can hold the specimen so the barite is hidden behind the cubes - due to preferential accumulation of the mineral on one side. Hayden Mine (East Faircloth vein), Mundy's Landing, Woodford Co., Kentucky — Sometimes you can hold the specimen so the barite is hidden behind the cubes – due to preferential accumulation of the mineral on one side.

A temporary quarry was established on the Bluegrass Parkway at KY33 during road work. It was buried and covered in grass and is no longer visible – much less collectable.

A lustrous yellow cube about a cm long. From a temporary quarry - Bluegrass Parkway at KY33 exit. — A lustrous yellow cube about a cm long.

Fluorite with dolomite and an unidentified white powdery mineral. 3 cm FOV. From a temporary quarry - Bluegrass Parkway at KY33 exit. — Fluorite with dolomite and an unidentified white powdery mineral. 3 cm FOV

Vugs with fluorite and dolomite in limestone. From a temporary quarry - Bluegrass Parkway at KY33 exit. — Vugs with fluorite and dolomite in limestone.

Vugs with fluorite in large purple over yellow cubes & dolomite in limestone.
From a temporary quarry - Bluegrass Parkway at KY33 exit. — Vugs with fluorite in large purple over yellow cubes & dolomite in limestone.

Closeup of a cube in the above specimen sowing the "city scape" surface. From a temporary quarry - Bluegrass Parkway at KY33 exit. — Closeup of a cube in the above specimen sowing the “city scape” surface

Another fluorite cube in same specimen showing only a small amount to purple fluorite over yellow. From a temporary quarry - Bluegrass Parkway at KY33 exit. — Another fluorite cube in same specimen showing only a small amount to purple fluorite over yellow..

Relatively large fluorite crystals with dolomite in limestone vug. From a temporary quarry - Bluegrass Parkway at KY33 exit. — Relatively large fluorite crystals with dolomite in limestone vug.

About half dolomite and fluorite fill this specimen. From a temporary quarry - Bluegrass Parkway at KY33 exit. — About half dolomite and fluorite fill this specimen.

Idaho

Keystone Mountains, Idaho – a location described to me by economic geologist Allen Heyl that I forwarded to Idaho collector Lanny Ream.

Vuggy mass with small blue cubes, Keystone Mountains, Idaho — Vuggy mass with small blue cubes

New Mexico

There are many fluorite occurrences in New Mexico. Some are on claims others on private ranches where collecting is no allowed.

Quartz and blue fluorite from the Blanchard Claim / mine, New Mexico — Quartz and blue fluorite from the Blanchard Claim / mine.

Fluorite, pine green almost botryoidal. Label says “Redrock, New Mexico.” Based on a photo of the specimen, Ray Demark thinks it is from the Great Eagle mine, Telegraph district, Grant Co., New Mexico – which isn’t far from Red Rock. Collected in 1993. Obtained in trade from Kevin Ponzio (Wisconsin) at the 2009 Kyana Geological Society show.

Fluorite, almost botryoidal. Label says “Redrock, New Mexico.” Based on a photo of the specimen, Mineral expert Ray Demark thinks it is from the Great Eagle mine, Telegraph district, Grant Co., New Mexico – which isn’t far from Red Rock. Collected in 1993. Obtained in trade from Kevin Ponzio (Wisconsin) at the 2009 Kyana Geological Society show.

Ohio

The Silurian limestone quarries in Ohio are famous for fluorite. It is usually yellow or brown due to organic inclusions like petroleum. As such, they fluoresce brightly.

Wyoming