  The electronic structure of fluorite crystals are studied by means of density
functional theory within the local density approximation for the exchange
correlation energy. The ground-state electronic properties, which have been
calculated for the cubic structures $CaF_{2}$,$SrF_{2}$, $BaF_{2}$, $CdF_{2}$,
$HgF_{2}$, $\beta $-$PbF_{2}$, using a plane waves expansion of the wave
functions, show good comparison with existing experimental data and previous
theoretical results. The electronic density of states at the gap region for all
the compounds and their energy-band structure have been calculated and compared
with the existing data in the literature. General trends for the ground-state
parameters, the electronic energy-bands and transition energies for all the
fluorides considered are given and discussed in details. Moreover, for the
first time results for $HgF_{2}$ have been presented.
