fluorite

American  

[floor-ahyt, flawr-, flohr-] / ˈflʊər aɪt, ˈflɔr-, ˈfloʊr- /

noun

1. a common mineral, calcium fluoride, CaF 2 , occurring in green, blue, purple, yellow, or colorless crystals, usually in cubes: the principal source of fluorene, used also as a flux in metallurgy and for ornament.

---

fluorite British  

/ ˈflʊəraɪt /

noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): fluorspar.   fluor.  a white or colourless mineral sometimes fluorescent and often tinted by impurities, found in veins and as deposits from hot gases. It is used in the manufacture of glass, enamel, and jewellery, and is the chief ore of fluorine. Composition: calcium fluoride. Formula: CaF 2 . Crystal structure: cubic

---

fluorite Scientific  

/ flr′īt′ /

1. A transparent to translucent mineral occurring in many colors, especially yellow and purple, and usually in cube-shaped crystals with octahedral cleavage. It is found in sedimentary rocks and in ore deposits within igneous rocks. It is often fluorescent in ultraviolet light. Chemical formula: CaF ₂ .

---

Etymology

Origin of fluorite

From Italian, dating back to 1865–70; see origin at fluor-, -ite ¹