Fluorite

Fluorite (also called fluorspar) is a halide mineral composed of calcium fluoride CaF2. Fluorite may occur as a vein deposit, especially with metallic minerals, where it often forms a part of the gangue (the surrounding “host-rock” in which valuable minerals occur) and may be associated with galena, sphalerite, barite, quartz and calcite. It is a common mineral in deposits of hydrothermal origin and has been noted as a primary mineral in granites and other igneous rocks and as a common minor constituent of dolostone and limestone.

Fluorite is a widely occurring mineral which is found in large deposits in many areas of the world.

Production

In 2009 the world reserves of fluorite were estimated at 230 Mt (million tonne), with the largest deposits being in South Africa (about 42 Mt), Mexico (32 Mt) and China (21 Mt). Present world production is around 5.5 Mt and three countries China (approx 59%), Mexico (18%) and Mongolia/CIS (10%) accounting for 87%.

Roskill states that mined production of fluorite accounts for approximately 92% of world consumption and the balance derived from fluor-apatite as a by-product of phosphate fertiliser manufacturing.

The role of the leading producer China has changed significantly over the last 20 years. Chinese exports of fluorite began to increase from the mid 1980s and by the early 1990's, China was established as the major source of supply for many countries.

Mine production elsewhere declined in response to Chinese low prices and diminishing consumption in fluorochemicals in the main industrialised countries. Following a period in the mid to late 1990s when fluorite producers elsewhere sought to protect their markets by mean of anti-dumping measures, the Chinese government introduced a number of actions, including export quotas and taxes, which significantly reduced supply of fluorite to the international market.

However this has now been largely offset by increased production in Mongolia and Mexico and by exports of fluorite derivatives from China. Nevertheless increased production is being considered outside of China, both with the re-opening of old mines and the development of new deposits.

Some of the more significant world deposits of Fluorite being mined outside of China are as follows:

Las Cuevas (Mexico): The Las Cuevas hosts the richest known fluorite resource in the world. The deposit is of hydrothermal/epithermal origin and the grade of the various ore bodies varies between 73 and 95% fluorite. Production output is 420,000 tpa (tonne per annum) of metallurgical grade concentrate and 580,000 tpa of acid grade concentrate.  This is the largest fluorite mine in the world and more than double the size of the next largest.

Vergenoeg (South Africa): This is a hematite-fluorite resource of grade approximately 40.0%. Production output in 2009 was 150,000 tpa obtained on a 70% recovery.

Bor-Ondor/Urgun/Eranduer (Mongolia): These 3 deposits account for a large percentage of the fluorite mined and processed in Mongolia. However there are numerous mines, both underground and open cut and a large amount of artisinal activities. 

Okorusu (Namibia): This deposit has a grade of approximately 35% and is presently producing 120,000 tpa of acidspar grade fluorine. Significant improvement in the yields occurred by removing the mineral fluor-apatite which requires separate processing.

Uses

There are two principal types of industrial use for natural fluorite, corresponding to different grades of purity:

Metallurgical grade fluorite: called metspar which contains less than 97% (typically 85% or more) CaF2. This is used for flux in steel production and in the manufacturing of ceramics, opalescent glass, enamels and cooking utensils.

Acid grade fluorite: called acidspar which contains 97% or more CaF2.  This is used to make hydrogen fluoride and hydrofluoric acid; manufacture of fluorochemicals, which includes fluorocarbons, fluoropolymers and fluoroelastomers; manufacture of AlF3 and synthetic cryolite used in aluminium smelting.

Market and Growth

The present world demand for fluorite is approximately 5.5 Mt and as follows:

- Acidspar for Fluorochemicals from HF: 50.3%.
- Acidspar for Aluminium: 17.4%.
- Metspar for Iron/steel: 30.8%.
- Metspar for Miscellaneous: 1.5%.

Since the 2000/01 economic recession and industry effects of restrictions on the use of fluorocarbons fluorite demand has shown an uneven recovery at an annual rate of 3.3% from 2002 to 2008 when demand was exceeded for the first time.