Gems TV

FLUORITE

Deriving its name from the Latin word “fluere”, meaning to flow (in reference to its low melting point), Fluorite is known as “the world’s most colourful gemstone”.

Fluorite, from which we get the word fluorescent, crosses the entire colour spectrum, from deep purple to crimson red, blue to green (Chrome Fluorite) and frosty orange to lemon yellow. Fluorite is one of the more famous fluorescent minerals. Many specimens strongly fluoresce in a great variety of colours.

Legends and lore

According to crystal healers, Fluorite is a Third Eye gem bringing rationality to intuitive qualities. It is believed to offer a stabilizing energy, facilitating order, balance and healing. Fluorite is also believed to be excellent for fostering clarity of mind, objectivity, concentration and meditation.

Just the facts

Due to its glassy lustre Fluorite is highly coveted. Fluorite is the natural crystalline form of calcium fluoride and often forms beautiful cube-shaped crystals. It is a transparent to translucent mineral. When pure, Fluorite is colourless; however, it usually contains impurities that colour it. The most common colours are violet, blue, green, yellow, brown, pink and bluish black.

Arguably, the most popular colour for Fluorite is a deep purple that can rival Amethyst in its finest examples. Indeed Fluorite/Amethyst comparisons are often used to show that colour cannot be relied upon as a gemstone identification test.

An eye catching phenomenon of Fluorite is its distinctive multicolour banding. Chunky Fluorite bead strands optimise this exceptional effect. Interestingly, the “blue john” variety mined in England that possesses curved bands of blue purple, violet, yellow and white has been used as an ornamental gem since Roman times.

Colour Change Fluorite is mined in Bihar, India and shows a dramatic change from green to purple. Colour change gems are those that distinctly change their colour when viewed under two different light sources.