Octahedral fluorite is prized by collectors for its sharp geometric form, often resulting from the cleavage of larger cubic crystals. It frequently displays intense zoning or color-shifting properties and is highly valued when found with sharp edges and clear transparency.
Is this octahedral fluorite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch octahedral fluorite with a known reference. Octahedral Fluorite sits at Mohs 4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Octahedral Fluorite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Octahedral Fluorite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: purple, blue, green, yellow, colorless, pink.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: isometric. Typical habit: octahedral.
Often confused with
Octahedral Fluorite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside octahedral fluorite
Minerals reported to co-occur with octahedral fluorite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaF₂
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 3.18 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Isometric
- Crystal habit
- Octahedral
- Cleavage
- Perfect Octahedral
- Fluorescence
- Often Fluorescent Blue or White Under UV Light
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Lapidary
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins, Limestone Cavities
- Typical price
- $10-100 for cabinet specimens, higher for large perfection
Where rockhounds find octahedral fluorite
Classic worldwide localities
- Cave-in-Rock, Illinois, USA
- Weardale, England
- Asturias, Spain
- Minas Gerais, Brazil
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins, limestone cavities country, the host setting where octahedral fluorite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, galena, sphalerite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a octahedral habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify octahedral fluorite?+
Where is octahedral fluorite found?+
How much is octahedral fluorite worth?+
What rocks look like octahedral fluorite?+
What minerals are found with octahedral fluorite?+
What kind of rock does octahedral fluorite form in?+
What is octahedral fluorite used for?+
Find octahedral fluorite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
