Fluorite

Known as the “Most Colorful Mineral in the World” Fluorite is a veritable chameleon of a gemstone. The most popular color for Fluorite is a deep purple which can rival Amethyst in its finest examples. Indeed Fluorite/Amethyst comparisons are often used to show that color cannot be relied upon as a gemstone test.

Common Fluorite colors include: Purple, blue, green, yellow, colorless, brown, pink, black, reddish orange and more. Some of the most eye-catching examples are multi-color Fluorites with distinctive bands and zoning.

The word “fluorescent” comes from the mineral Fluorite which commonly fluoresces blue and has been known to glow yellow, green, red, white or purple. Some Fluorites display different colors under longwave UV light and shortwave UV light, and some will even demonstrate phosphorescence in a third color!.

Fluorite is available in many locations around the world including: Brazil, Canada, China, England, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Russia, Switzerland, USA and more.

Chemically, Fluorite is Calcium Fluoride (CaF2) with a Hardness of 4; and a Specific Gravity of 3.0-3.3.

As Fluorite comes in such a huge array of colors it is really up to the individual to determine what any given piece of Fluorite is worth. Fluorite is a relatively soft stone with a glassy luster that makes it highly sought after. Gem quality specimens will naturally achieve greater prices than those favored by mineral collectors but Fluorite is generally an inexpensive stone.

All of these factors contribute to making Fluorite the second most popular mineral amongst collectors after quartz.