How much does real fluorite cost?
Natural Fluorite stone It is considered one of the most popular minerals in the world, second only to quartz. It has a wide range of sparkling colors, for which it received the title of “the most colorful mineral in the world.” The fluorite stone was described in 1530 and was originally referred to as the mineral “fluorspar”, i.e. To . being added during the melting of ore, it gave these slags plasticity; the slags are easily peeled off from valuable metal raw materials. Today, the term so-called “fluorspar” is mainly applied to the industrial and techno-chemical variety of the stone, fluorite, and “fluorite” is the term used to refer to the fine gemstone.
☘Fluorescence of fluorite stone.
The phenomenon of “fluorescence” (the emission of light by a substance after it has absorbed radiation) was named after the stone fluorite, since it was one of the very first fluorescent minerals studied by scientists. The element fluorine was also named after the fine fluorite. Fluorite stone often fluoresces under ultraviolet light and when heated. For this effect to occur, the presence of activators is necessary – impurities of various chemical compounds. The color of the visible light emitted when a fluorite stone sample fluoresces appears to depend greatly on the impurities present in the composition, as well as where the sample was found. The fluorescent colors of fluorite are extremely varied..
☘Mineral crystalfluorite
Pure in breed fluorite crystal has high transparency. The most characteristic shape for them is such as a cube or octahedron. It is believed that the octahedral crystal formed at a higher temperature than the cube.
☘Similarity with other preciousstones
Due to its wide variety of colors, fluorite can also resemble other stones such as emerald, amethyst, as well as topaz, and even sapphire and ruby. However, it can be easily distinguished by its relatively low hardness level of approximately (4 according to the Mohs scale). Another distinctive characteristic of fluorite is its property of thermoluminescence – the ability to glow when heated. Chlorophane, a green variety of fluorite, thermoluminesces most brightly. It can begin to glow even from the warmth of your hand. Depending on the temperature, its color can vary from green to dark blue.
☘Stone depositsfluorite
Deposits of fluorite stone are found in many places around the world.
There is a wonderful stone called “Blue John” which is a type of fluorite mineral with multi-colored stripes ranging from white, greenish, purple and even blue. A very small amount is mined only in the province of Derbyshire. Recently, a deposit of fluorite, similar in color to “Blue John,” began to be developed in the Celestial Empire.
☘Primary colors of stone and mineral Fluorite
Fluorite stone has an incredible palette of colors: from colorless to almost black. The main shade of fluorite is violet. Blue colors, green shades and of course yellow are also popular. More rare are pink, as well as brown or black, there are reddish-orange colors in fluorite and also colorless. The bulk of fluorite is single-colored, but a large percentage of fluorite stones are multi-colored, in which the colors are arranged in stripes or zones.
☘Transparency andshine
Fluorite has an attractive glassy luster. Pure stone minerals have very high transparency, with no inclusions visible to the eye. They are mainly used in the manufacture of souvenirs and as jewelry inserts, and translucent, lower-quality fluorite is used in manufacturing, industry and metallurgy and as a decorative and semi-precious stone. ☘ Cutting
In jewelry, both intensely colored and less colored minerals are used. natural fluorite. Fluorite stone is usually cut like other jewelry inserts; it is often used for collecting or displaying at jewelry exhibitions. The most common cut shapes are traditional ovals, rollers and cushions. Multicolored and striped fluorites are often shaped and polished as a cabochon. Many fluorite stones are untreated and sold in mineral and crystal forms. Fluorite stone is a very fragile material, so jewelers must be careful when working with it.
☘Materialsfluorite
- Crystal structure: cube, octahedron
- Chemical formula: CaF2 – calcium fluoride
- Refractive index: about 1,434
- Color: all colors
- Hardness: about 4 on the Mohs scale
- Density: 3,00 to 3,25
- Transparency: translucent to transparent
- Cleavage: perfect
- Birefringence: no
- Fluorescence: blue-violet
- Luster: strong glassy
☘ Varieties of fluorite
- Blue John is a banded purple and white fluorite from Derbyshire, England;
- Chlorophane is a thermoluminescent variety of fluorite that can emit bright green or blue-green light when heated;
- Yttrocerite is a fluorite in which the elements cerium and yttrium partially replace calcium in the chemical structure;
- Yttrofluorite is a fluorite in which yttrium elements partially replace calcium in the chemical structure.
- Antozonite is a fluorite, which, when this mineral is split, releases an unpleasant odor characteristic of free fluorine;
☘ Mythology
Fluorite Stone – extraordinary in beauty and widest in color. The word “fluorite” comes from the Latin word “fluo”, which means fluid. In the production of steel and aluminum, this mineral was used as a catalyst. It made the slag flowable, and they could be easily separated from the base metal. hence its second name “smelting spar” came from. That’s what they call it now. Fluorite stone is also used as an irreplaceable source of fluoride for water fluoridation. It is generally accepted that fluorite stone calms the body. In the eighteenth century, this stone was ground into powder and mixed with water to treat kidney disease. The ancient Romans believed that drinking wine from vessels carved from fluorite stone would never make you drunk.
☘Stone Jewelry fluorite
Since fluorite is quite soft and has ideal cleavage, jewelry making is not considered the main area of application of this stone. Since ancient times, it has been used as an ornamental material for making figurines, bowls, and figurines. Polished fluorite beads are used to make pendants, brooches, earrings, and bracelets, but caution should always be exercised when using it.
Quite large fluorite stones can be found at very affordable prices. Typically, striped and multi-colored fluorite is shaped and polished as a cabochon. Purple, blue and white striped “Blue John” is often used for decorative carvings and was once popular for making wine glasses.
☘How to care and clean stone fluorite
Fluorite stone is very fragile in relation to other minerals, and since they are much softer than quartz, if handled incorrectly, they can lose their luster and the surface will become scratched. Therefore, caring for fluorite stone is almost the same as caring for delicate opal. Avoid wearing products containing fluorite when you are engaged in physical activity, sports or household chores. When cleaning fluorite, use soapy water and a soft cloth. Be sure to rinse well to remove any soap residue.
As with most colored stones, avoid using steam or ultrasonic cleaners, bleach or other harsh chemicals. When storing fluorite, wrap it in a soft cloth or place it in a padded box. Store fluorite separately.
