Fluorspar (Fluorite) — CaF₂

Fluorspar, also called fluorite, is the industrial mineral calcium fluoride (CaF₂). Buyers select it by application, chemistry and physical form: acid grade for fluorochemical feedstock, metallurgical grade for suitable fluxing processes, and ceramic grades for selected glass and enamel formulations. A purity headline alone does not establish that a shipment will work in your plant.

Fluorspar, fluorite and feldspar: identify the right material

Fluorite is the mineral name; fluorspar is widely used in industrial trade. Feldspar is a different family of silicate minerals and is not an equivalent source of CaF₂. Coloured decorative fluorite crystals are also not evidence of industrial-grade chemistry. Specify the material name, formula, intended process and a representative analysis rather than colour or a photograph. See the separate feldspar guide when that is the raw material required.

Acid grade vs metallurgical and ceramic grade

The names below are a selection framework, not a PLAXRAW stock list or a universal acceptance standard. Eurofluor describes acid-grade concentrate at a minimum of 97% CaF₂; supplier contracts may require a higher assay and additional impurity limits. Its published ranges for other grades differ from historical classifications, so always use the agreed purchase specification.

Grade	Process to discuss	Checks before selection
Acid grade / acidspar	Feedstock for industrial HF and downstream fluorochemicals	CaF₂, silica and carbonates; analysis basis, moisture and feed form
Metallurgical grade / metspar	Fluxing applications in steelmaking and selected cement processes	Plant-approved chemistry, size distribution, fines and impurity limits
Ceramic grade	Selected glass and enamel formulations	Formulation compatibility, colour-related impurities, particle size and trial results

The PR-A97, PR-C95, PR-C85 and PR-M60 codes shown on this page are reference classifications, not confirmed supplier grades or available inventory. Historical “effective CaF₂” is a silica-adjusted calculation, distinct from total CaF₂ assay and from the dry-mass calculation below. Confirm its definition if a contract uses it; a historical minimum is not an approval criterion for every furnace. References: Eurofluor grade overview and historical US Bureau of Mines classification.

Read the TDS and a batch CoA together

A technical data sheet describes the offered product; a certificate of analysis identifies results for a particular batch. Ask for matching grade and lot identifiers, sampling details, test methods, units and analysis basis. A generic brochure cannot substitute for evidence about the lot being evaluated.

Field to clarify	What the purchasing team should establish
CaF₂ assay	Actual batch result, contractual minimum and dry or as-received basis
SiO₂ and CaCO₃	Individual results and process-specific limits; distinguish Si from SiO₂
Sulfur, phosphorus and iron	Whether each is required, the reported chemical form and method; set limits from the process specification
Moisture	Sampling time and test basis; reconcile delivered mass with dry material
Particle size	Size band or sieve distribution, percentage within range and fines; do not treat an unexplained mesh number as a complete specification
Identity and sampling	Lot, sampling location, representative sample and independent verification when agreed

These are questions for qualification, not universal numerical limits. Published supplier data demonstrates why checking matters: Euromark’s displayed acid-grade page has a title mentioning 97% but a body table naming metallurgical grade and 90%. Resolve such inconsistencies with the supplier’s current controlled document before accepting a specification. SGS describes fluorspar inspection and laboratory services, including quantity checks and quality sampling; this is not a claim that PLAXRAW has commissioned those services.

Lumps, powder and trial acceptance

Match the form to the feeding system and process. A powder assay cannot establish the suitability of lump material, and two shipments with the same total CaF₂ can have different moisture, fines and impurity profiles. Record packaging and handling requirements alongside chemistry.

Question in the plant	Evaluation approach
Material does not feed consistently	Compare size distribution, fines and moisture against the accepted feed specification
Chemistry passes but product results vary	Check representative sampling, lot variation and operating conditions before blaming purity alone
Considering a different flux grade	Compare against the current approved material under a documented, controlled plant trial
Considering glass or enamel use	Evaluate the actual formulation and final appearance; mineral colour does not establish acceptance

Agree pass/fail criteria before a trial: relevant product quality, process stability, consumption and any plant-specific refractory or emissions requirements. Keep a record of baseline operating conditions and change one defined factor where practicable. There is no universal addition rate or guaranteed fuel saving on this page. Orbia documents metspar applications in steel and cement; Eggerding identifies dry acid-grade applications including welding, foundry and ceramics. Those application statements do not validate a particular PLAXRAW batch.

Use the current supplier SDS and the facility’s approved handling procedures. HF production belongs in qualified industrial facilities; this guide is a material-selection reference, not a chemical production procedure.

Compare delivered cost on the same basis

For an illustrative calculation, assume 1,000 kg as received, 5% moisture by wet mass and 90% CaF₂ in the dry solids. Dry solids = 1,000 × 0.95 = 950 kg; contained dry CaF₂ = 950 × 0.90 = 855 kg. This is mass accounting, not historical “effective CaF₂”, a reactivity prediction or a supplier specification.

Comparison item	Record on both quotations
Price basis	Currency, wet or dry tonne, quotation date and validity
Delivered scope	Agreed delivery term, destination and included/excluded costs
Accepted material	Chemistry, moisture, size, sampling and rejection terms
Process outcome	Cost against accepted trial performance, not purity or price alone

Dividing comparable delivered cost by contained dry CaF₂ can help explain a mass-basis difference. It cannot make an unsuitable grade acceptable. Obtain current quotations rather than applying a marketplace price range to all fluorspar.

Discuss requirements for Saudi Arabia and the Gulf

For a fluorspar sourcing enquiry, state the application, CaF₂ minimum, impurity limits, analysis basis, moisture, size distribution, trial quantity or recurring requirement, packaging and destination city or port. Include the required TDS, batch CoA and SDS. Confirm origin, available grade, inspection terms, delivery scope and timing in the written quotation.

Use Request a quote, choose Other if fluorspar is not listed, and describe the specification in the message. An enquiry does not establish stock, a confirmed sample, price or delivery commitment. For related process context, see glass applications, construction materials and silica sand.