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The Fluorite Structure |
| Ball-and Stick Model Fluorite is the mineral name for calcium fluoride. In this structure, the calcium ions (white spheres) form a face-centered cubic array and the fluoride ions (green spheres) occupy all of the tetrahedral holes.This illustration shows a ball-and-stick model of the fluorite strutcure. |
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Spacefilling Model A spacefilling model of the fluorite strrutcure. The floride ions are actually larger than the calcium ions, and are much too large to fit entirely inside the tetrahedral holes. As a result, the array of calcium ions is greatly expanded. |
| Spacefilling Unit Cell A spacefilling unit cell model of the fluorite structure. |
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Cutaway Spacefillig Model A larger unit cell spacefilling model, with one corner removed to show the internal structure |
| Polyhedral Model A model polyhedral model in which the outlines of the tetrahedral holes are shown with partially transpatent tetrahedra. Compare this structure to the sphalerite structure, in which only half of the tetrahedral holes are filled. |
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Polyhedral Model A larger polyhedral model, showing 2x2x2 unit cells view an animation of this model |
