Fluorite has a wide range of uses. It is not only used industrially as a source of fluority and a smelting flux in steelmaking, but also used in the manufacture of glass, ceramic and cement. Besides, Fluorite has ornamental and lapidary uses in the stone.
Have you ever seen a glowing fluorite? Is it really more beautiful than a rainbow?
Fluorite meaning
Fluorite, also known as fluorspar, is the mineral form of calcium fluoride and belongs to the minerals of halide. Its name comes from the Latin word fluere, meaning "flow", but today, it is used to describe the crystal’s fluorescence – its ability to glow under ultraviolet light.
Fluorite crystal meaning also includes Direction, Self-confidence, and Self-love. Therefore, it is often carried by people as a healing stone.
Fluorite composition
The chemical composition of fluorite is calcium fluoride (CaF2), of which Ca accounts for 51.1% and F accounts for 48.9%.
Fluorite mineral contains many impurities. Ca is often replaced by rare earth elements such as Y and Ce. In addition, it also contains a small amount of Fe2O3, SiO2 and trace amounts of Cl, O3, He, etc.
Fluorite properties
As for the properties, fluorite luster is glass to sub-glass, transparent to translucent, with complete cleavage. The refractive index is 1.434 and the specific gravity is 3.18. The fluorite hardness is 4 on the Mohs, which is lower than that of a pocket knife.
Raw fluorite is a calcium crystal that crystallizes in many forms, including masses, grains, cubes, and octahedrons. Sometimes it forms octahedral fluorite.
How does fluorite form?
Fluorite is mainly produced in hydrothermal veins. It occurs most commonly as a glassy, many-hued vein mineral and is often associated with lead-zinc ores and silver ores.
Fluorite is also found in some limestones, granites, pegmatites and high-temperature veins, and as a component of some marbles and other metamorphic rocks.
Fluorite deposits have been found in China (Hunan, Zhejiang and Fujian), Mexico, South Africa, Russia, Spain, Mongolia, Namibia, Kenya, the United States, etc. Until the year 2020, Mexico has the world’s largest reserves of fluorite mine, at 68 million tons.
China and Mexico are the main fluorite mine producers in the world. Among them, China is the world's largest fluorite miner, with an output of 4.3 million tons (2020), and Mexico is 1.2 million tons (2020).
Fluorite is more beautiful than rainbow
Fluorite color is very attractive and more beautiful than the rainbow, so it is called Rainbow Fluorite.
The fluorite crystal is originally colorless and transparent. The reason why it has so many attractive colors is due to its structural defect. That is, the fluorite crystal structure has "voids", which can be easily filled by iron, magnesium, copper and other ions, making it become the most colorful stone in the world.
Therefore, in nature, colorless and clear fluorite is extremely rare. The most common fluorite colors are green, purple, blue and yellow.
Fluorite glows like fluoriti
Fluorite can glow. There are often records of "Night Pearl" in ancient Chinese books, which is not myth and legend.
There are two types of luminescence, one is fluorescence and the other is phosphorescence.
Some fluorites emit fluoresce like fluoriti when exposed to ultraviolet light, cathode rays or heating. The fluorescence is thought to be caused when trace amounts of yttrium, europium, samarium or other elements substitute for calcium in the fluorite mineral structure. The luminescence is short-lived, only lasting for a period of time.
But when fluorite contains some rare earth elements, it emits phosphorescence. The luminescence is internal energy luminescence, very long-lasting, relatively weak in the daytime, and very bright at night.
Fluorite heals you
Fluorite is believed to have healing spiritual meaning. It can cleanse and purify the body, absorb and neutralize negative energy and stress, increase the ability to concentrate, and help people understand and maintain interpersonal relationships.
The fluorite spiritual meaning differs from colors.
- Clear fluorite meaning: It is the first choice for repairing aura, it can refresh people and make the original vague thoughts clear.
- Blue fluorite meaning: It calms emotions and stimulates people’s creativity. It is especially suitable for quiet brain users.
- Yellow fluorite meaning: Improve interpersonal relationships, promote people’s spiritual communication, and enhance collective cooperation.
- Purple fluorite meaning: Eliminate toxins from the human body and provides human immunity.
- Green fluorite meaning: It is one of the most stable emotional powers. It absorbs the negative aura of the human body and makes you perform better.
- Pink Fluorite meaning: It is a kind, positive and cheerful stone. It can help people see and express depressed emotions and bring them to the surface where they can be handled constructively.
- Rainbow fluorite meaning: It brings a combination of energies to enhance flexibility, free-thinking and emotional brightness.
In addition, the fluorite healing properties are also reflected in boosting the body's immune system, healing ulcers and wounds, and curing arthritis and headaches.
Fluorite is fragile as glass
Because of its luminosity and beauty, fluorite stone becomes one of the most sought after and most collectible crystals in the world. It has a soft and glassy appearance that is often very vibrant.
In the jewelry industry, fluorite’s biggest use is to serve as an engraving material. Sometimes green and purple fluorite stones are often used to fake emerald and amethyst, but it is very easy to distinguish, because fluorite has four groups of complete cleavage, and the fluorite hardness is also relatively small.
Please notice that the fluorite gemstone jewelry should be stored separately from any other jewelry items that can easily scratch it to avoid any violent collision and contact with acidic substances.
