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Fluorite:
Halides (Calcium fluoride, with small amounts of yttrium and cerium) CaF2 AKA: Fluor Spar |
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System: Isometric; usually cubic or as penetration twins; less frequently octahedral and rarely dodecahedral; also cleavage masses, granular, columnar; penetration twins common. Appearance: Violet, blue, green, yellow, brown, bluish black, pink, rose-red, colorless, white; vitreous; streak white. Physical Properties: Hardness: (4.0); Specific gravity: (3.0 - 3.2). Cleavage: perfect in four directions, forming an octahedron; fracture, uneven; transparent to translucent; fluorescent; brittle. Similar species: Fluorite is harder than calcite, but much softer than quartz. Occurrence: Fluorite develops in several different environments. It is associated with albite and pyrite in carbonatites; with calcite in hornfels of contact metamorphic rocks; with rhodochrosite and chalcedony in epithermal veins; and with pyrite in lode hydrothermal replacement deposits. Fluorite has been found in Illinois, Kentucky, Colorado, Mexico and Ontario Canada. Miscellaneous: The name is from the Latin fluere, "to flow", because fluorite melts easily and is used as flux in the smelting of metallic ores. Fluorite is used in the manufacture of steel and hydrofluoric acid. Conventional Wisdom: Romans admired the blue-purple fluorite mined in Britain, now known as Derbyshire Blue John. Pliny's "most precious" murrhine was fluorite, as in the valuable vase taken from Alexandria by Augustus. Pompey took six such vases from Mithridates' treasure and presented them to the temple of Jupiter. Artifacts of carved fluorite were found in the ruins of Pompeii. The cleavage planes in fluorite form natural octahedrons, which resemble two four-sided pyramids joined base to base, each exposed face being an equilateral triangle. This geometric precision apparently inspired the modern mystical concept of fluorite as an "intellectual" stone. It is said to aid in the integration of knowledge, straighten out one's thoughts, strengthen its user's analytical abilities, and bring clarity and peacefulness of mind. Fluorite helps bring the spiritual into the material and quickens enlightenment. Helps heal holes in one's auras where energy is drained. Grounds, balances and focuses one's energies. Absorbs and alters negative and other energies. Opens the chakras. Aids physical and mental healing. Strengthens bone tissue, especially teeth enamel. Relieves dental disease, pneumonia, viral inflammation. Cleanser, grounds excess energies and helps one to work with large amounts of energy. Very focusing. Clear and Purple: Objectivity; clears the way for new things, upliftment, aura cleansing. Good for the eyesight, sinuses; repels colds. Enhances other gems. Green: Stills mind and heart, harmonizes and recharges all the chakras. Blue: Sooths the throat, nose and ears; Karmic impasses resolved, atonement relieved. Yellow: Focus, cooperation, group alignment. Lavender: Well-being, serenity, peace, connection with universe/God/eternal life force. Clusters: lowers work/life stress (helpful on your desk) Double Pyramid: Aligns spirit with physical plane, inner with outer awareness, and the two sides of the brain. Belongs to the Astrological Signs of Pisces and Capricorn. |