fluorspar

American  

[floo-awr-spahr, -er-] / ˈflu ɔrˌspɑr, -ər- /

Or fluor spar

noun

Mineralogy.

1. fluorite.

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fluorspar British  

/ ˈflʊəˌspɑː /

noun

1. Also: fluorite.  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

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Etymology

Origin of fluorspar

First recorded in 1785–95; fluor- + spar ³

Example Sentences

One result is the fluorspar district of southern Illinois, which once produced a majority of the country’s fluorite—used to smelt steel and create hydrofluoric acid.

From Science Magazine • Jun. 1, 2023

I'm for it�but I'm disturbed about coal and fluorspar so I'm reserving my judgment on amendments.

From Time Magazine Archive

A few were laden to the Plimsoll mark with cryolite from Greenland, fluorspar from Newfoundland, pitch and coke from the U.S.

From Time Magazine Archive

Also proposed were "import taxes" of: $3 per ton on fluorspar; 1¢ per Ib. on manganese; 22¢ per Ib. on butter; 100% on all products of convict labor.

From Time Magazine Archive

Those stones which show electricity on the application of pressure are such as the fluorspar, calcite, and topaz.

From The Chemistry, Properties and Tests of Precious Stones by Mastin, John