Rocks, Minerals & Ores
Mineral Sequence in the Cady Mountains
Fluorite
CaF2 (octahedral)Cady Mountains, Mojave Desert, CA
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Mineral Sequence in the Cady Mountains
Fluorite from the Cady Mountains in California’s Mojave Desert stands out for its bold colors and classic octahedral form. These calcium fluoride crystals developed in volcanic rock, where mineral-rich fluids filled fractures and cavities. As the fluids cooled, fluorite crystallized into geometric shapes that range in color from purple and green to clear or yellow, depending on trace elements. Octahedral fluorite is especially prized by collectors for its symmetry, clarity, and often glassy surfaces. In the Mojave Desert, these crystals tell the story of hydrothermal systems that once moved through the landscape, depositing minerals in orderly beauty. For geologists, fluorite is a key to understanding mineral sequences and thermal histories; for collectors, it’s a stunning natural formation. Either way, it’s a standout mineral in a desert full of hidden geological treasures.