How is hydrogen fluoride made from fluorspar?

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A labeled diagram of the periodic table entry for fluorine, showing its atomic number 9, symbol F, atomic weight 18.998, electron configuration, and indicating it is a halogen and a gas at room temperature. — fluorine Properties of fluorine.

To produce hydrogen fluoride (HF) from fluorspar, powdered fluorspar is distilled with concentrated sulfuric acid inside a lead or cast-iron apparatus.1

During this distillation process, calcium sulfate (CaSO₄) is formed as a byproduct, which remains insoluble in the hydrogen fluoride. The resulting hydrogen fluoride is then obtained in a relatively anhydrous state through fractional distillation using copper or steel vessels.1