Fluorspar

What it is

Fluorspar (also called fluorite) is an industrial mineral composed of calcium and fluorine (CaF2), used in a wide variety of chemical, metallurgical, and ceramic processes. Fluorspar is recognized as a critical mineral by several OECD states including Canada, the EU and US A and its supply chains are concentrated in, and limited to, only a handful countries, highlighting its strategic value.

How it's used

Fluorspar is used in many industrial applications, including:

  • production of hydrofluoric acid (HF) for refrigeration and air conditioning, solar panels production and computer equipment production
  • production of dielectric materials used in microelectronics
  • steel and aluminum production (fluxing agent)
  • manufacturing of Teflon (PTFE)
  • nuclear fuel processing
  • emerging uses in lithium-ion batteries and renewable energy systems.

Fluorspar is a key part of each of these applications and cannot be replaced by another mineral in the production process.