Fluorspar

Calcium fluoride, the source of nearly all fluorine chemicals, from refrigerants to aluminium smelting, and China mines most of it.

Industrial minerals · No. 57

• EU critical 2023
• US critical 2025
• HHI 4,884 · highly concentrated

Almost every fluorine chemical, from refrigerants to battery salts, starts as fluorspar, and China mines about 60% of it.

Chart: Illustration: Fluorspar

Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

Fluorspar is fluorite, calcium fluoride, formed in hydrothermal veins often with lead, zinc or barite. It is mined underground or in pits and upgraded by flotation.

Three things to know

1. Acid-grade fluorspar, above 97% CaF₂, feeds hydrofluoric acid; lower metallurgical grade serves as a flux in steel and cement.
2. China's fluorspar imports jumped 48% to 856,000 t in the first half of 2025, with 86% coming from Mongolia.
3. World phosphate rock reserves hold about 5 billion t of fluorspar equivalent, 15 times the listed fluorspar reserves.

The journey

1. 1 Vein depositHydrothermal veins, often with lead or barite
2. 2 FlotationMined and upgraded by flotation
3. 3 GradingAcid grade above 97% CaF2
4. 4 HF acidReacted with sulfuric acid
5. 5 End usesRefrigerants, fluoropolymers, AlF3, battery chemicals

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