Long-term hydraulic fracture conductivity through rock strengthening via the formation of fluorite

A method of treating a carbonate formation, the method comprising:

• introducing a stimulation fluid into the carbonate formation at a pressure higher than a fracture pressure of the formation;
• creating openings in the carbonate formation via the stimulation fluid;
• introducing a fluoride salt solution comprising a proppant into the carbonate formation such that it at least partially penetrates into the openings wherein the fluoride salt is selected from the group consisting of NaF, NH4F, and combinations thereof;
• and
• reacting the fluoride salt with a carbonate surface in the carbonate formation to form fluorite on a surface of the formation thereby increasing a hardness of the carbonate formation, wherein increasing the hardness of the carbonate formation comprises increasing the hardness by 4 to 6% over the same formation before treatment, as measured by a Brinell device.