Fluorite Ridge

Collecting Light Green & White Fluorite

- ROBERT BEARD

Fluorite Ridge, approximately ten miles north of Deming, New Mexico, has several accessible former fluorite mines and prospects. Most of the area is administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and any unclaimed lands are generally open to collecting. The mines in the lower elevations are reached by an unpaved road that is well maintained and accessible by a two-wheel drive vehicle, while the mines in the higher elevations are accessible by a four-wheel drive vehicle or hiking. Most of the fluorites at the mines and prospects are white to light green and occur as fissure veins in granitic and volcanic host rocks.

FLUORITE & INDUSTRY

Fluorite (CaF2) is calcium fluoride. While this is a simple chemical formula, fluorite occurs in a wide range of colors. It is often white to light green but is sometimes dark green, blue or deep purple. Some fluorites occur as masses that do not contain crystals, while some fluorites occur as beautiful cubes or octahedral crystals.

Fluorite Ridge dominates the skyline on the way to the Gratten Mine.

Multicolored fluorite and crystals are prized by mineral collectors, and it is also important to industry, where it is referred to as fluorspar. While it has long been known for its value in producing hydrofluoric acid and as a flux for the steel industry, another market for fluorite is developing. This is the increased use of fluorine in lithium-ion batteries, critical for the electric vehicle (EV) industry and other industries that require lightweight rechargeable batteries. The EV market is by far the largest user and accounts for over 80 percent of the global demand for lithium-ion batteries in 2024.