Fluorite is a predominately purple and green multicolored calcium fluoride crystal. Sometimes called “rainbow fluorite” it can also have blue, red, pink, clear, black, white and yellow colors. The gemological property of fluorescence takes its name originally from fluorite. Fluorite is often mistaken for tourmaline because they are both multi colored stones. But they are very different in the predominant colors, hardness of the stones and in many other ways.
Most fluorite at the present time comes from China though it is found throughout the world. Often it is an associated mineral in the mining of galena.
It is not a hard stone and subject to fracture through cleavage which limits its jewelry usage to more protected items. This is more than made up for by its unique display of colors.
