Fluorite

Q: What is Fluorite?

Fluorite is a calcium fluoride mineral celebrated for its extraordinary range of colors—purple, blue, green, yellow, pink, and colorless—often zoned in multiple hues within a single crystal. It commonly exhibits strong blue fluorescence, the phenomenon named after the mineral itself, and has been pr

Q: What is the hardness of Fluorite?

Fluorite has a Mohs hardness of 4.0, making it relatively soft for use in jewelry.

Q: How much does Fluorite cost?

Fluorite falls into the Budget (< $50/ct) price range. Prices vary based on color, clarity, cut, and origin.

Q: What is the crystal system of Fluorite?

Fluorite belongs to the Isometric crystal system.

Celebrated for one of the widest color ranges of any mineral, from purple, blue, green, and yellow to pink and colorless, often zoned within a single crystal, fluorite is calcium fluoride, and it lends its name to the very phenomenon of fluorescence, glowing strongly under ultraviolet light. Prized ornamentally since Roman times, when it was carved into luxury vessels called murrhine, it crystallizes in the isometric system and is soft at 4.0 on the Mohs scale, which restricts this budget-tier semi-precious material largely to collectors and display pieces. Major gem and specimen sources include China, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and South Africa.

Physical & Optical Properties

Category Semi-Precious Gems

Mohs Hardness 4.0

Specific Gravity 3.0 – 3.25

Refractive Index 1.432 – 1.436

Crystal System Isometric

Luster Vitreous

Cleavage Perfect

Fracture Conchoidal

Color various

Dispersion 0.007

Pleochroism Absent

Mohs Hardness

Mohs hardness of Fluorite shown against the ten reference minerals, from talc (1) to diamond (10).

Mohs	Reference mineral	Fluorite
1	Talc
2	Gypsum
3	Calcite
4	Fluorite	●
5	Apatite
6	Orthoclase
7	Quartz
8	Topaz
9	Corundum
10	Diamond

Crystal System

Value & Market

Price Tier Budget (< $50/ct)

Where to Buy Fluorite

Blue Nile Fine jewelry retailer

James Allen Gemstone jewelry

Brilliant Earth Ethically sourced gems

Amazon Wide selection

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Treatments

Synthetic fluorite in all colours is known. - Gemstones of the world, Walter Schumann, 2001, p 198 4Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references 3.00 to 3.25Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references BrittleArthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009) PerfectHerve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) Perfect and easyMore from other references ConchoidalWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references 1.432 to 1.436Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references IsotropicUlrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references NoneWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) AbsentWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) 0.007Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references Colourless, pink, red, brown, green, yellow, blue, violet. Colour change: blue/violet, smoky brown/lilacUlrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references Smoky-brown (from India)Michael O?Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) Mauve (from India)Michael O?Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) Violet, Mie scattering on calcium microcrystallites. Blue Y3+ + F vacancy +2 electrons. "Emerald" green ("chrome fluorite"), Sm2+. Yellowish green, color center containing Y3+ and Ce associated with an F vacancy. Yellow, O3 color center = O2 substituting for fluorite. Pink, YO2 color center (Y3 + O3-2). Color change, Y3+ associated color center and Sm2+, with minor influence of a Ce3+ associated color centerW. William Hanneman, Pragmatic Spectroscopy For Gemologists (2011) Transparent,Translucent,OpaqueUlrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references VitreousArthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009) Commonly blue to violet or greenUlrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004) Inert to strong blue to greenHerve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references Some specimens phosphoresceMichael O?Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) May show triboluminescenceMichael O?Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) May show thermoluminescenceMichael O?Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) IsometricHerve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references Cubic, massiveArthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009) Fluorite occurs in low-to-high temperature hydrothermal veins, granites and granite pegmatitesMichael O?Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) Negative crystals, two- or three-phase inclusions, healing cracks, crystal inclusions - Gemmological Tables, Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, 2004, p 1 Fluorite information at mindat.org France  Gems, Sixth Edition, Michael O’Donoghue, 2006, p. 412 Myanmar  Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok Peru  UK  Fisher, J.E., and L. Greenbank, 2000, The Rogerley Mine, Weardale, County Durham, England. Rocks and Minerals, 75(1), 54-61. Gems, Sixth Edition, Michael O’Donoghue, 2006, p. 412 [var: Blue John] [www.thamesvalleyminerals.com] [var: Blue John] Fluorite: The Collector's Choice. Extra Lapis English No. 9 USA  Gems, Sixth Edition, Michael O’Donoghue, 2006, p. 412

About Fluorite

Fluorite is a calcium fluoride mineral celebrated for its extraordinary range of colors—purple, blue, green, yellow, pink, and colorless—often zoned in multiple hues within a single crystal. It commonly exhibits strong blue fluorescence, the phenomenon named after the mineral itself, and has been prized ornamentally since Roman times when it was carved into luxury vessels called "murrhine." Major gem and collector sources include China, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and South Africa.