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FLUOR-SPAR. America.—West Greenland; California; Mexico; and in New Jersey, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Vir ginia, in the United States *. Uses. On account of the variety and beauty of its colours, its transparency, the ease with which it can be worked, and the high polish it receives, it is cut into vases, pyramids, and other ornamental articles. The largest, and most beautiful varieties for use, are found in Derbyshire, and it is in that country that all the ornamental articles of fluor-spar are manufactured. It is also used by the me tallurgist as a flux for ores, particularly those ol iron and copper; and hence the name fluor given to it. The acid it contains, lias been employed in the way of experiment for engraving upon glass. Obser cations. 1. It is distinguished from Calcareous-spar, by its great er hardness and weight, and its not effervescing with acids: from Gypsum, by its superior hardness, and its decrepitating in the fire, whilst gypsum exfoliates, and becomes white; and from Ilcavy-spar, by its inferior s pecific gravity. 2. The red varieties have been named False Ruby, the yellow False Topaz, the green False Emerald, and tiie blue False Sapphire and Amethyst. 3. The name Clilorophane, given to the varieties that easily become phosphorescent, is from the green light they exhibit. j> 2 7W * Bruec and Barton, in American Mineralogiral Journal, N. i. p. 32, 33.
