Collector's Guide to Fluorite

Book excerpt: Fluorite is found everywhere, has been important to industry for centuries, and is a minor ornamental material as well. Fluorite presents a fascinating array of colors, habits, and associated minerals and is widely available. See spectacularly large "museum quality" specimens that can be found. Fluorite presents a wealth of scientific opportunities to see crystallography, geochemistry, and solid-state physics at work in the natural world. This book includes information for the hobby collector or rock hound, as well as technical information for those who want to understand fluorite in greater depth. It provides over 140 full-color examples and extensive references to the formation and geographic locations of fluorite. This book is essential for everyone with a passion for minerals.