Is this Flourite?

[thehunter123]

Hey y'all! Recently found this stone while using a classifier in a local NC creek. Doesn't look like any quartz i've ever found. In fact, it is easily scratched by quartz and exhibits perfect cleavage. Any ideas? I'm thinking flourite. Thanks!

 

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[Eu_citzen]

Will a knife scratch it?

 

[DDancer]

Appears that way to me With a hardness of 4 I'd see if a penny (3) can scratch it, shouldn't, then the knife(5.5). Some info : https://www.minerals.net/mineral/fluorite.aspx

 

[thehunter123]

Thanks guys! So the penny nor the knife can scratch it. Clear quartz wouldn't scratch it. Couldn't even get a quality piece of smoky quartz to scratch it. Ended up doing a streak test which revealed a colorless streak. Finally tested it against a solid piece of corundum--didn't see anything definitive as it seemed to do equal damage to both stones. Any ideas?

 

[smokeythecat]

Well, first, where did it come from? That tells a lot. It seems hard. Topaz?

 

[thehunter123]

It came from a creek in the NC Piedmont--right on the edge of the foothills.

 

[DDancer]

? You initially posted quartz would easily scratch it.

 

[Kray Gelder]

? You initially posted quartz would easily scratch it.

Yes. A curious twist in the story.

 

[thehunter123]

Lol I'm a bit dyslexic at times...meant to say that it easily scratches quartz.

 

[Eu_citzen]

Does it feel "heavy" compared to similar sizes quartz? Can you do a SG test? (specific gravity)

 

[DDancer]

Well that paints a different story. Not fluorite. An SG test would help as EU says. Smokey's thought is the most likely. To me its kind of unusual looking for a topaz but with your correction the hardness being between 7 and 9 it fits. Unless its clear beryl.