← All gemstones
Halide

Fluorite

Occurs in every color; purple, blue, green, yellow, pink, colorless and color-zoned are most common

Blue Green Purple Yellow
Optical properties

Optical characteristics

Ref. index
1.434
Luster
Vitreous
Pleochroism
None None; cubic system is isotropic.
Fluorescence
Classic UV-fluorescent mineral — the word 'fluorescence' was coined from fluorite. Most specimens glow vivid blue-violet under SW and LW UV.
Origins

Source localities

United Kingdom United Kingdom: Whitby jet
Significant ★ Top Source

Classic source for Whitby jet; Derbyshire Blue John fluorite from England is historically significant.

10% est. supply
Canada Canada: British Columbia / NWT / Labrador
Significant

Known for nephrite jade, diamonds and labradorite; also produces fluorite.

12% est. supply
China China: Xinjiang / Yunnan / Hubei
Commercial

Known for jade, turquoise, quartz and multiple gem deposits; China is the world's largest fluorite producer.

35% est. supply
Mexico Mexico: Querétaro / Jalisco / Sonora / Coahuila
Commercial

Known for fire opal, turquoise, amber and collector minerals; also a major fluorite source.

20% est. supply
United States USA: major gem fields
Commercial

Diverse sources for turquoise, tourmaline, opal, sapphire, topaz, red beryl and rare minerals.

15% est. supply
Norway Norway: Arendal / Tvedestrand
Significant

Known for feldspar and collector minerals; also produces fluorite.

8% est. supply
Inclusions

Inclusions & features

Zoning Color Zoning Under 10x loupe in immersion: bands or patches of deeper or lighter color arranged… Crystals Crystal Inclusions Under 10x loupe: solid, well-formed mineral crystals trapped inside the host gem. They may… Clouds Pinpoint Clouds Under 10x loupe: concentrations of extremely tiny bright dots that individually are too small… Crystals Negative Crystals Under 10x loupe: an empty cavity that has the geometric shape of the host… Multiphase Two-Phase Inclusions Under 10x loupe: a transparent irregular cavity containing both a liquid phase and a…
Identification

Instruments used

10x Loupe Your most-used instrument, start every examination here Refractometer Measures refractive index, the backbone of gem identification Hydrostatic Scale Measures specific gravity, works even on opaque stones UV Lamp, Long Wave and Short Wave Fluorescence exposes treatments, synthetics, and origin High CRI Penlight Tiny concentrated white spot for field checks, inclusions, fire, and fractures