Hobbies And Interests
Gemological Properties
Fluorite is in a class of minerals known as halides. It is chemically composed of calcium and fluoride. It is one of the softer minerals and has a score of "4" on the mineral hardness scale. Fluorite disperses and refracts light at 1.434 nanometers. Its specific gravity or relative density is 3.18. Fluorites are typically cubic or isometric with three perpendicular axes and six faces. Some appear in nature with eight faces, making them octahedrons. Rarer varieties are dodecadehedrons with 12 faces or trapezohedrons or tetrahexahedrons with 24 faces. Collectors most eagerly seek twinned fluorites with dual symmetrical formations.
Luminescent Properties
Fluorite is a lustrous, glassy mineral. It exists in nature as a clear crystal, mono-colored or multi-colored. In fact, one piece of fluorite can emanate many colors, including purple, blue, orange, brown, pink, green, black and yellow. Fluorite is fluorescent under ultraviolet (UV) light, emanating colorful light in white, blue, yellow, purple, green or red. After removal from UV light, some fluorescent fluorite glows on its own in a different color, demonstrating phosphorescent properties. Rare varieties of fluorite are thermoluminescent and glow green or bluish-green when exposed to heat. Finally, some fluorite glow after abrasion, making them triboluminescent.
Mental Healing Properties
The primary purported healing property of fluorite is its supposed ability to resolve mental disorders. Particularly, fluorite is used to calm an angry, anxious or depressed spirit. Believers wear it to focus the mind and alleviate symptoms of attention deficit disorder preventing concentration. Placing it under the pillow while trying to rest is believed to promote peaceful sleep and resolve insomnia. Finally, believers carry and use it like amethyst to break bad habits like substance abuse. Millenium Products for Personal Power writers explain that eighteenth century Romans created drinking vessels from the gem to prevent users from getting drunk.
Physical Healing Properties
Eighteenth century Romans also used to drink mixtures of ground fluorite and water to alleviate kidney disease symptoms. According to Sunny Ray metaphysical healers, fluorite can be made into elixirs. Yellow fluorite elixirs are believed to help spleen, liver, kidneys and blood cholesterol disorders. Believers consume green fluorite elixirs for intestinal and stomach problems. Pink fluorite placed over painful areas of bone and the spine for at least 20 minutes is reported to absorb the pain. Unspecified forms of fluorite assist with symptoms of asthma, skin disorders and infections.