Fluorite
Calcium Fluoride, CaF2
Crystal System: Isometric
Hardness: 4.0
Density: 3.1-3.3

Fluorite is a widespread and common mineral. It often occurs as a primary mineral in veins of which it is the chief constituent, or in the gangue of lead, zinc and silver ores. Fluorite is also found in sedimentary rocks such as limestones and dolomites as well as in igneous rocks such as granites.

Fluorite occurs commonly as cubic, octahedral and dodecahedral crystals in highly variable colors ranging from colorless and completely transparent to yellow, green, blue, purple, pink or black. Crystals may be large and penetration twins are fairly common. Fluorite often fluoresces with a blue or violet color in ultraviolet light.

Stuart provides the following remarks:

"These now famous water clear fluorites from this locality were virtually unknown to collectors outside of the former Soviet Union. They are now highly prized and considered among the finest of fluorites."

Dolomite
Calcium Magnesium Carbonate CaMg(CO3)2
Crystal System: Trigonal
Hardness: 3.5-4.0
Density: 2.85-2.95

Dolomite is most common as a sedimentary rock-forming mineral in rock known appropriately as dolomite. It is abundant in dolomitic limestones and as a gangue mineral in hydrothermal mineral deposits.

Dolomite typically occurs as rhombohedral crystals with curved, composite faces and ranging in color from colorless to white, pink, yellow or brownish.

Rocks from Stuart Wilensky's Collection

Index of Specimen Images

Table of Contents

bkeller@rockhounds.com 8/10/95