41 
FLUORSPAR. 
Fluorspar or fluorite is a mineral consisting of calcium fluo 
ride. It varies from colourless to dark purple, often blue, yellow, 
green, or rose. It usually occurs in veins, often intermingled 
w ith other minerals, such as galena, sphalerite, quartz, and 
calcite. Fluorite is frequently spoken of as spar, Jluor or when 
clear and colourless as glass spar. 
PREPARATION. 
In some cases fluorite is sold in the crude form as it comes 
rom the pit, but more often it is crushed or ground. Where 
e deposits contain other minerals and a pure product is re 
quired, the material is crushed and jigged to remove the 
unpurities. 
According to F. J. Fobs, 1 fluorspar is classed as lump, gravel, 
and ground, and graded according to purity as given below. 
e term gravel is applied to the granular material resulting 
° m natural disintegration and to the product of crushing. 
Commercial fluorspar is divided into three main grades 
n °wn as “No. 1,” “No. 2”, and “No. 3,” according to purity. 
No. 1 contains at least 96 per cent of calcium fluoride. It 
s Usually white or only slightly coloured. 
No. 2 contains from 90 per cent to 96 per cent of calcium 
ri de, with less than 4 per cent silica, the remainder being 
? lefl y oalcite. The colour is usually darker than that of No. 
1 grade. 
No. 3 contains from 60 per cent to 90 per cent of calcium 
fluoride. 
(1 p No. I grade, when ground, is further subdivided as follows: 
txtra No. 1 Ground,” “No. 1 Ground,” and No. 2 Ground.” 
xtra No. 1 Ground contains less than 1 per cent of 
‘mpurities. 
fluoride 
No. 1 Ground contains at least 98 per cent of calcium 
and not over 1 per cent of silica. 
Fluorspar Grades and Markets," page 720, Mining and Scientific Press, Nov. 27, 1909.