Fluorite is a crystal that forms in clusters of geometric shapes, usually cubes.

Chemical Formula: CaF2
Class: Calcium Fluoride Halides
Hardness: 4
Coloration: White, Light Green, Blue, Purple and more

How to identify it/Unique Characteristics or Properties: Fluorite is a crystal that forms in clusters of geometric shapes, usually cubes but sometimes more elaborate shapes.

Where to find it in…

The Northwest: Unkown
Other: Nevada, New Mexico, and widely spread around the world.
Past Uses: Often used in industrial purposes because it melts at very low temperatures. It is used as flux in making steel, used in fuels, in glass and lens manufacturing. It was once also used in carvings and today is best known for being used to fluoridate tap water.
How it was Made: It occurs in mineral veins associated with metallic elements, silver, lead, etc, as well as in sedimentary rocks and near hot springs.
Interesting Facts: Fluorite has been termed the most colorful mineral in the world and comes in a wide varieties of shapes and sized. It can come in massive crystals or granular and compact. Some varieties of fluorite are also fluorescent, which is where the term came from originally.