Fluorite (CaF2) is a calcium fluoride mineral that forms cubic crystals in purple, green, yellow, blue and clear, and it is the mineral that gave fluorescence its name. It is used in metallurgy, ceramics and chemical processing, where it is called fluorspar. It is also a steady seller in crystal shops, and you can see the range in our fluorite collection.
The Physical Properties of Fluorite
Fluorite is found most commonly as cubic crystals, and it has four directions of perfect cleavage, which makes it unique among common minerals. It's typically purple, green or yellow, but it can come in other color varieties such as blue, black, red and colorless. It scores 4 on the Mohs hardness scale. Fluorite has vitreous luster and transparent to translucent diaphaneity.
When George Gabriel Stokes discovered that fluorite glows blue when illuminated with light, he named the phenomenon fluorescence after the mineral. The glow fluorite emits under short-wave and long-wave ultraviolet light is blue-violet. Not all specimens glow ” some emit a white or cream color, while others don't fluoresce.
The History of Fluorite
The name fluorite comes from the Latin verb fluere, which means to flow. In 1530, Georgius Agricola was the first to discuss the mineral in print, in his book Bermannvs sive de re metallica dialogus (Bermannus; or dialogue about the nature of metals) when he noted it was quite useful as a flux.
The world reserves of fluorite estimated at around 230 million tonnes. Most massive deposits are in South Africa, Mexico, and China, but it's China that's leading the world production of fluorite.
The Lore of Fluorite
Because of its range of colours, fluorite is the home of rainbows in folklore, a protection stone out of which rainbows were born. That story, along with its bands of colour, made it a favourite of collectors and storytellers.
The Metaphysical Properties of Fluorite
In crystal lore, fluorite is the stone of order out of chaos, and people often keep it nearby while they meditate or plan. Its symbolism is the bigger picture: a reminder to take a step back and see the whole. It is often called the Genius stone, and shoppers who like a tidy desk or study space tend to reach for fluorite spheres.
Its reputation in crystal lore is tied to focus, concentration and clear decision-making, which is where the Genius stone nickname comes from. Collectors also keep a piece as a quiet reminder to say what they mean.
In crystal lore, each colour of fluorite has its own chakra association. Purple fluorite is linked with intuition and the third eye, as is blue fluorite. Green fluorite is linked with the heart centre and self-love. Yellow fluorite is linked with creativity and wisdom, and is popular for group spaces. Clear fluorite is linked with the crown chakra and being present in the moment. Our new fluorite arrivals cover most of these colours.
Fluorite is rich in symbolism, and as the rainbow keeper, it earns a place in every crystal enthusiast's collection.
Stock this in your shop
Fluorite is one of the most popular colour-banded minerals on the shelf; browse our fluorite wholesale range in rough, polished and sphere forms.
Stonebridge Imports is a Canadian crystal wholesaler with no minimum order, shipping from Kitchener, Ontario. Open a wholesale account.
