Fluorspar: fluoride, description, properties and application

This mineral can have a variety of colors - from yellow and pink to blue, violet and even black. Sometimes, though very rarely, there are even colorless specimens. This fluorite is a stone that has a hundred faces and as many uses.

Fluorspar: physical properties

This mineral was known to people in some form or another in ancient times. It was also used in the melting of ores, which helped to clear them faster and easier. A synonym for fluorspar, which is used in mineralogy more often is fluorite. Another name associated with the chemical formula is calcium fluoride.

Fluorspar is often a cubic crystal with glass shine. Coloring can vary: there are yellow, blue, blue, red-pink, black-violet and other tones. Also, crystals can be colorless, although this is a rarity. 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 Spat, despite its fairly rich history, was given only in the XVI 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 processing ores. By the way, fluorine got its name - fluorum - from the 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 . Nevertheless, very often it contains various impurities, including rare-earth elements. They do not have a serious effect on the properties of the stone, changing only the character of its color.

Fluorite reacts with sulfuric acid, thereby releasing poisonous hydrogen fluoride, which often when inhaled leads to the death of experimenters searching for the legendary philosopher's stone. So, behind the mineral, "devilish" fame was entrenched.

With its help, other fluoride compounds are obtained, as is the element in its pure form. In addition, one of the most popular products is hydrofluoric acid.

Varieties

Fluorite - a stone with a hundred faces, because it can be of almost any color and shade. According to them, as a rule, and distinguish some of its varieties:

• Anthozonite - differs characteristic dark-violet coloration, contains a lot of elemental fluorine, radioactive;
• Chlorophane - a kind of green color, because of the presence of samarium ions in its composition is also called a fake emerald;
• Ratovid - characterized by coloration from purple to blue-violet and earthy or fine-grained structure;
• Yttrofluorite - due to the substitution of yttrium calcium and the effects of radiation acquires yellow shades.

Traditionally, fluorspar was mistaken for more noble minerals: topaz, emeralds, amethysts, etc. Nevertheless, it is easy to distinguish it. Fluorite is a stone that does not have hardness, so you can easily scratch it with a needle or a knife. On the Mohs scale, the number 4 corresponds to it. This feature somewhat complicates the processing of the mineral, especially when it comes to very fine work.

Extraction

Fluorspar is one of the most common minerals. Its deposits are often found in dolomites, limestones, hydrothermal ores. It is accompanied by some other stones: quartz, galena, calcite, gypsum, apatite, topaz, tourmaline, etc.

The largest known deposits are in the southeast of Germany, in England, almost everywhere in Central Asia, in China, the USA, Central America, as well as in Transbaikalia, Buryatia, Primorsky Krai. Usually there are copies 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 have known for a long time the mineral fluorspar. They also found application to him quickly enough: he made small objects of utensils, everyday use, all kinds of ornaments. For example, in ancient Rome, the vases from it were called murine and were highly valued.

With the development of metal processing, it was observed that the mineral fluorite is an excellent flux, that is, lowers the melting temperature of the ores, simplifies the separation of slags.

Later, with the accumulation of some knowledge of chemistry, it was also used to produce pure fluorine and its compounds. In particular, until now fluorite (formula CaF ₂ ) is used as a raw material for the reaction, the result of which is hydrofluoric acid. It is also used in many industries, for example, in ceramics and stained-glass designs. Thus, it is not easy to overestimate the importance of fluorite mineral.

In addition, it is still 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 competent processing, the beauty of the gem increases many times, so that he can compete with his more noble and rare brethren.

Jewelcrafting

Fluorite is a mineral, which is often given out for more expensive and rare stones - citrine, emerald, amethyst, etc. However, connoisseurs have always been difficult to deceive. Well, as jewelry inserts, this gem was not used very often: softness and the following processing complexity made it simply pointless. The exception was multicolor fluorites, which combine a large number of shades. However, for the manufacture of inexpensive ornaments with simple processing, it is still used today.

Mystical and magical properties

Like many other minerals, fluorite is credited with the ability to heal certain diseases and alleviate conditions. So, lithotherapists advise to massage with products from this stone to patients suffering from headaches, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis. It is also believed that it helps to get rid of meteorological dependence and chronic fatigue, to reduce the level of stress, to normalize sleep.

As for esotericism, fluorite is credited with truly amazing properties: it is believed that it is a powerful stimulant 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 talismans from fluorite protect from ill-wishers and increase the capacity for analytical thinking with a general powerful positive energy.