The word fluorite is derived from the Latin word for "flow," because fluorite has a low melting point. The name was given to its established element fluorine. Fluorite is a colorful mineral, most often found in light green, yellow, blue-green or purple. It is a common mineral and is most often found in vein deposits near lead, silver ore and quartz deposits.
Hydrofluoric Acid
Fluorite is used as the main source of fluorine in hydrofluoric acid. Hydrofluoric acid is highly corrosive and is used for mineral digestion, surface cleaners, etching and biological staining. Because of its corrosive nature, hydrofluoric acid can destroy skin tissue and cause blindness if exposure occurs.
Ornaments
Fluorite is sometimes used to make gemstones, though this is uncommon. Its desirability as a gemstone is low because it is not as hard as other minerals and it has a significant amount of cleavage. Because it is softer than other minerals, it is also used in decorative ornamental carvings, sometimes referred to as "Green Quartz."
Optical Lenses
In the optics field, fluorite is in great demand. Fluorite can be used in optical lenses for high-performance telescope and camera lens elements. Lenses made from fluorite exhibit less chromatic aberration because the dispersion rate is much lower than lenses made without, allowing for crisp, clear images of astronomical objects. Because fluorite lenses contain a strong hexagonal crystal structure, they reflect light more evenly.
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