244 
DESCRIPTIVE MINERALOGY. 
Uses. This mineral is sometimes used as flux for certain ores. Some of the varieties have 
also been employed in the manufacture of vases and other ornamental articles. 
LOCALITIES. 
Cayuga County. Fluor spar is found in small quantities in the grey sparry limestone, at 
the quarry of the New-York Company at Auburn ; and also in the water-lime series, just 
above the limestone on the road from Cayuga bridge to Auburn.* 
Clinton County. This mineral, in green and occasionally purple masses, is sparingly 
disseminated in the gangue of the iron ore at the Arnold mine.f 
Genesee County. Nearly black crystals have been found in this county, but they are not 
of frequent occurrence. 
Jefferson County. One of the most remarkable localities of fluor spar in the United 
Stales, is that which occurs on the southeast bank of Muscolunge lake, in the town of Alex¬ 
andria, about four miles northwest from the village of Oxbow. The mineral is in a vein of 
considerable width, associated with calcareous spar, and running vertically or nearly so through 
a bed of primitive limestone. Cubical crystals (Fig. 116 ) of various 
sizes have been found here, some of them more than a foot in diame¬ 
ter. These crystals have a greenish tint, and in small cleavages are 
translucent. Sometimes, however, they are nearly colourless. The 
faces of the larger ones are usually rough, but the smaller ones are 
more perfect, and have a better finish. In consequence of the exten¬ 
sive excavations which have been made for the removal of this mineral, 
it is now difficult to obtain good crystallized specimens, and there is 
some danger in working at the locality. Massive specimens, how¬ 
ever, are abundant, and from these the octahedron can usually be obtained by cleavage. A 
short distance north of the preceding, there is probably another vein of •this mineral, as small 
loose crystals were found in considerable abundance on the lake shore. 
Lewis County. Green and nearly transparent crystals are found in narrow veins in the 
limestone at the falls near Lowville. They are usually in the form of cubes, rarely in octa¬ 
hedrons. They are associated with calcareous spar, iron pyrites, and rarely galena. The 
specimens are liable to injury from the decomposition of the iron pyrites, and should be covered 
with gum arabic or copal, to protect them from the action of the atmosphere. The same 
mineral is occasionally met with, similarly associated, at Martinsburgh in this county. 
Monroe County. Cubical crystals, transparent and colourless, or with a beautiful bluish 
lint, have been found in cavities in limestone near Rochester. These crystals are sometimes 
an inch in diameter, but they are usually much smaller. They have an exquisite finish. 
Niagara County. Fluor spar occurs in small colourless cubes at Lockport, where it is 
associated with the calcareous and pearl spar, celestine, etc., which have rendered this region 
Fig. 116. 
Vanuxem. New-York Geological Reports, 1839. 
f Emmons. Ibid. 1840. 
