What is creedite mineral?

Creedite is a rare sulfate mineral composed of calcium, aluminum, and fluorine. It was named after William King Creed, an English mineralogist. The mineral was first discovered in 1916 in the United States at the Navidad Mine in Durango, Mexico. It is formed in evaporite deposits and can also occur in hydrothermal veins.

Creedite typically forms as small hexagonal prismatic crystals, often in clusters or rosettes. The crystals can be colorless, yellow, orange, pink, purple, or red in color. It has a Mohs hardness of 2.5-3 and a specific gravity of 3.1-3.2.

Creedite is valued by mineral collectors for its bright and unusual color, unique crystal habit, and rarity. It is also known for its fluorescence under ultraviolet light, which can cause the crystals to emit a bright blue or green glow.

While creedite is not commonly used for industrial purposes due to its rarity, it has been studied for its potential use in the production of fluorine gas. It has also been found to contain elevated amounts of uranium and may be used as an indicator mineral in uranium exploration.