Fluorite
The mineral Fluorite is a calcium chloride and forms in a variety of colours including deep purple, violet, pink, green yellow, brown,
blue and colourless. Many fluorites are of a single colour but others form with colour banding. Some fluorite glows a blue violet colour
under ultraviolet light and the term ‘fluorescence’ derives from the mineral name. Other fluorescent colours shown by fluorite include yellow,
green, red, white and purple. The gemstone has a hardness of 4 on Mohs' scale, so great care is needed to avoid scratching against a
harder surface.
Fluorite is a fairly common mineral, usually found in vein deposits, often occurring with lead and silver ores. It is also found in beds
and cavities in sedimentary rocks, hot springs and pegmatites. It is mined worldwide in Argentina, Austria, Canada, China, Spain, Switzerland,
Namibia, Norway, Madagascar, the USA, and, in the UK, the famous ‘Blue John’ variety comes from the Blue John Cavern in Derbyshire, England.
This variety forms with curved bands of purple blue, violet, yellow and white, although it is becoming scarcer and only a few hundred kilograms
are mined each year.
The name fluorite comes from the Latin ‘fluere’ meaning ‘to flow’; referring to its use as a flux in smelting and it’s ease of melting. It
is also used in the manufacture of certain glasses, enamels and porcelains and is a source of fluorine for fluorinated water. Ancient Romans
believed that drinking alcohol from fluorite vessels prevented drunkenness. During the 18th Century, fluorite was ground into a
powder and mixed with water to treat kidney disease and, in China, it has been used for ornamental carvings for hundreds of years.
Fluorite is a favourite stone of healers as it is believed to have a calming effect on the body, bringing order to one’s life, by
encouraging positive thoughts and actions.