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Fluorite Varieties & Global Locations: The Ultimate Collector’s Guide

Fluorite Varieties & Global Locations: The Ultimate Collector’s Guide

By Arthur Rocha

Fluorite is my favorite crystal! But I don't have enough in my collection, or ever will ;) 

Below is a report I put together on Fluorite, their types and localities. I'm no expert in Fluorite, if you know more or know what issue of Mineralogical Records I should read, drop me a message and I will update. 

It is my mission to keep adding to this. I'm working on nice image representations next.

Thanks, 

Arthur

Fluorite Varieties: Collector-Grade vs. Commercial-Grade

Fluorite (CaF₂), also known as fluorspar in industry, is famed for its vibrant colors and fluorescence. It crystallizes in the cubic system (often in cubes or octahedra) and has Mohs hardness 4 ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ) ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ). Fluorite occurs globally in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites, commonly alongside minerals like galena, sphalerite, quartz, and calcite (Fluorite - Wikipedia) (Fluorite - Wikipedia). Below we explore different types of fluorite, emphasizing prized collector specimens versus bulk commercial deposits.

Overview of Fluorite and Its Properties

Collector-Grade Fluorite Varieties

Certain fluorite occurrences produce exceptional crystal specimens prized by collectors. These often feature striking colors, well-formed crystals, and sometimes unusual optical effects. Below we identify key varieties or types of collector interest, with their identification features, rarity, discovery, notable localities, and the context of collector vs. commercial significance.

Purple and Blue Fluorite (Common Variety)

Identification: Typically deep purple to bluish-purple cubes, sometimes zoned with lighter cores or edges. Can be gemmy and transparent or richly colored and opaque. Often fluoresce blue under UV due to trace europium (Fluorite - Wikipedia) (Fluorite - Wikipedia). Forms cubic crystals frequently associated with calcite, barite, or sphalerite.
Rarity: Common. Purple is the most common fluorite color worldwide (Fluorite - Wikipedia). Blue is also relatively common, though pure deep blue (without purple) is slightly less abundant.
Discovery: Known since antiquity – described by Pliny the Elder for its purple-white patterns (Fluorite - Wikipedia). Fluorite as “fluorspar” entered scientific literature by the 16th century (Georgius Agricola). No single discovery year (widely distributed).
Notable Locations (by country):

Green Fluorite (Daylight-Fluorescent Variety)

Identification: Typically emerald to grass-green in color. Commonly forms cubic or octahedral crystals, sometimes with gem clarity. A remarkable trait in some local green fluorites (like Weardale, UK) is daylight fluorescence – under natural sunlight they appear vivid blue due to UV content, reverting to green indoors ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ) ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ). Many green fluorites also fluoresce blue under longwave UV.
Rarity: Common to Uncommon. Green fluorite is fairly common, though top-quality green crystals with strong daylight fluorescence are uncommon and sought after.
Discovery: Occurrences are numerous; not one discovery. Weardale’s fluorescent green fluorite known at least since the 19th century. Recently, new finds (e.g. 21st century in South Africa) have reinvigorated interest in green fluorite.
Notable Locations:

Yellow and Orange Fluorite

Identification: Colors range from golden-yellow, honey, to orangey-brown. Typically cubic crystals, often transparent to translucent. Some have internal color zoning (e.g. core of yellow with outer zones of purple). Under UV, many yellow fluorites fluoresce a cream or dull yellow, though some may fluoresce purple or not much at all (fluorescence is variable based on activators).
Rarity: Common. Yellow is one of the common colors of fluorite (Fluorite - Wikipedia), though rich orange hues are less common. High clarity yellow crystals are plentiful from certain mines.
Discovery: Widespread; no single date. Significant production of yellow fluorite in the 20th century came from Illinois (USA) and southern Germany, among others.
Notable Locations:

  • Spain: Asturias (Villabona and Berbes) – world-renowned gemmy golden-yellow cubic fluorite, often with purple edges or on white baryte ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ) ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ). The Asturias finds (mid-20th century onwards) supplied abundant fine yellow specimens.
  • Germany: Göschwitz and Wölsendorf (Bavaria) – historically produced yellow to amber fluorite (Wölsendorf material is famously uranium-rich, often dark with antozonite, see below). Also the Hilton Mine, England noted for bright canary-yellow fluorite cubes in the 1930s ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ) ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ).
  • USA: Illinois (Cave-in-Rock) – produced amber and tea-colored fluorite cubes in addition to purple; often zoned purple and yellow together in spectacular “jackstraw” crystal clusters. Ohio (Clay Center) – clear amber-orange fluorite cubes often perched on celestine; a classic U.S. locale.
  • Mexico: Illinois’ replacement in modern fluorspar production – e.g. Mina La Navidad, Durango yields yellow to orange fluorite in quantity, some of which are cut as gemstones.
    Collector vs. Bulk: Yellow fluorite often co-occurs with lead/zinc ores and was sometimes discarded or used as flux. For example, in the Asturias (Spain) and Illinois (USA) mining districts, fluorite was mined in bulk (for acid-grade concentrate) and yellow crystals were occasionally saved by miners for collectors. Today, many yellow fluorite localities (Spain, Ohio) are worked mainly by collectors as industrial mining waned. Yellow fluorite has moderate demand industrially, but its real value lies in aesthetic specimens and lapidary carvings due to its attractive color.

Colorless, Brown, and Black Fluorite

Identification: Colorless fluorite is pure CaF₂ without impurities – often water-clear (“optical fluorite”). It may form cubes or octahedrons. Brown fluorite can result from hydrocarbon inclusions or radiation, appearing smoky or tea-colored. Black fluorite is usually deeply purple or due to inclusions (some “antozonite” is nearly black – see below). Fluorescence varies: colorless can fluoresce (often blue) if purities like rare earths are present; some brown fluorites phosphoresce.
Rarity: Common (colorless, brown) – but usually overlooked by collectors unless very clear. Uncommon (black) – true black fluorite is rare, often due to unusual conditions (e.g. high uranium causing intense color centers).
Discovery: Known alongside other colors; for instance, medieval and early modern lapidaries carved clear fluorite for optics. No specific discovery event.
Notable Locations:

  • Madagascar: Mahajanga – produced large colorless octahedral fluorite crystals (“diamonds”) in clay pockets; coveted for their clarity.
  • United States: New Mexico (Blanchard Mine) – clear to pale yellow fluorite with bright blue fluorescence; New Hampshire (Wise Mine) – colorless to light smoky octahedrons.
  • England: Some Cornwall and Devon mines produced colorless fluorite veins (less valued).
  • Germany: Wölsendorf – dark smoky-brown to nearly black fluorite in massive form (often antozonite variety containing uranium – see next section).
    Collector vs. Bulk: Clear/colorless fluorite has specialized industrial use in optics (e.g. lens-grade fluorite) ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ). Large flawless cleavages are sliced for telescope and camera lenses. Thus, colorless fluorite from places like China, Mexico, or Illinois was often utilized commercially. Collectors generally prefer vividly colored fluorite, so clear or brown pieces were historically less collected unless they had exceptional qualities (size, clarity, or fluorescence). Black fluorite, being rare and often of scientific interest (radioactive), is usually of interest only to specialized collectors and has no industrial value. For example, fluorite from Wölsendorf containing elemental fluorine inclusions was studied scientifically but not used as fluorspar (Antozonite - Wikipedia).

Pink Fluorite (Alpine Type)

Identification: Delicate pink to rose-red fluorite, usually forming octahedral crystals. Most famous as small octahedra on matrix of white granite or smoky quartz in alpine clefts. The pink color is due to rare earth element traces (e.g. Y, Nd) or radiation coloring. Under UV, Alpine pink fluorite typically shows weak purple fluorescence or none.
Rarity: Rare. True pink fluorite is scarce globally, found in only a few alpine-type environments. Highly prized by collectors for its beauty and rarity.
Discovery: First well-documented in the French Alps in the 19th century. Notably, the Argentière Glacier find in Chamonix, France (circa 1980s) yielded the first prominent pink fluorite specimens for the market ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ) ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ). Earlier, similar material was known to mountaineer-collectors in Switzerland.
Notable Locations:

  • France: Mont Blanc Massif (Haute-Savoie) – Pink fluorite octahedrons on smoky quartz found in high-altitude clefts near Argentière and Mont Blanc ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ). These finds produced gemmy pink octahedra up to a few cm (often “Alpine fluorite” refers to these).
  • Switzerland: Göscheneralp, Uri – another alpine cleft locality for pink octahedral fluorite ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ) ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ). Swiss alpine teams have periodically found small pink fluorites in the central Alps.
  • Pakistan: Gilgit-Baltistan (e.g. Shigar Valley) – more recently, a few pegmatite pockets produced pastel pink to salmon octahedral fluorites associated with aquamarine and topaz, though still quite rare.
  • Peru: Huanzala Mine – occasional light pinkish fluorite cubes have been reported among more common green/purple there, but true vivid pink is very limited outside the Alps.
    Collector vs. Bulk: Pink fluorite has zero commercial or bulk significance – it occurs in small quantities in hard-to-access alpine veins. It is solely a collector phenomenon, often requiring arduous climbing to retrieve. The pieces command high prices on the collector market due to their beauty and scarcity. No industrial mining targets pink fluorite; any recovered specimens are byproducts of specimen mining efforts in alpine regions ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ).

“Blue John” – Banded Purple-Yellow Fluorite (Derbyshire)

Identification: Blue John is a famous banded fluorite variety from Derbyshire, England. It features alternating bands of deep purple-blue and white or yellow. ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ) ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ) When polished or sliced, the bands form striking concentric or wavy patterns of violet-blue and amber. It is usually found as veins or chunks in limestone caverns, rather than well-shaped single crystals. Fluorescence is generally weak; Derbyshire fluorite typically does not fluoresce strongly (Fluorite - Wikipedia).
Rarity: Uncommon to Rare. Geographically, true Blue John occurs only in a small area of Derbyshire. Only a few hundred kilograms are mined per year today (Fluorite - Wikipedia), making it quite scarce. However, within its locality it was found in moderate quantity historically (most large pieces now depleted).
Discovery: First discovered in the 1700s (or possibly earlier). It has been mined for ornamental use since about 1700 (Fabulous Fluorite: Derbyshire Blue John – Deposits). Local lore suggests minor Roman-era usage, but the confirmed exploitation began around the early 18th century as an ornamental stone. The name “Blue John” likely comes from the French bleu-jaune (“blue-yellow”), describing its colors, and was in use by the late 18th century.
Notable Locations:

Chlorophane – Thermoluminescent Fluorite

Identification: Chlorophane is a rare variety of fluorite known for its spectacular thermal reaction. It typically appears as a reddish-purple to dull green fluorite in normal light (Chlorophane - Wikipedia) (Chlorophane - Wikipedia). Its key feature is that it fluoresces bright green when heated (thermoluminescence) or under UV, often glowing an emerald-green light (Fluorite - Wikipedia). In a dark room, a chlorophane specimen warmed in one’s hand or under a lamp will emit a green glow. Some pieces also phosphoresce (continue glowing after heat removal) (Chlorophane - Wikipedia) (Chlorophane - Wikipedia). Aside from luminescence, chlorophane’s form is like normal fluorite (usually massive or crude crystals).
Rarity: Rare. Few fluorite deposits contain chlorophane material. It is a collector’s curiosity and seldom found in quantity.
Discovery: The term chlorophane (meaning “green showing”) was coined in the 19th century. It was originally described from Siberia, Russia (Chlorophane: Mineral information, data and localities.), presumably in the early 1800s, when mineralogists noted a Siberian fluorite that glowed green when heated. By the mid-1800s, it became a classic example in early luminescence studies.
Notable Locations:

  • Russia: The type locality in Siberia (likely the Ilmen Mountains or Nerchinsk area) – produced the first known chlorophane fluorites, historically described in old mineral texts.
  • USA: Franklin, New Jersey – some Franklin fluorite is highly thermoluminescent, glowing green when heated (Chlorophane - Wikipedia) (Chlorophane - Wikipedia). Also reported from Amelia Court House, Virginia – an uncommon occurrence of chlorophane in a pegmatite.
  • Kazakhstan: Recent reports from the Kent deposit (Kazakhstan) of deep purple fluorite that exhibits the chlorophane effect (owing to rare earth inclusions).
  • Various: Isolated finds in Madagascar and Namibia have yielded pieces showing green thermoluminescence. Generally, chlorophane occurrences are scattered and not commercially mined.
    Collector vs. Bulk: Chlorophane’s value is purely for collectors and scientists. It is not extracted in bulk – if found, it’s saved for display or study. In the 19th century it was a scientific novelty in labs. Today, a chlorophane specimen is a prized addition for a fluorescence or rare-property mineral collection. Industrially, it has no significance (its chemistry is normal CaF₂; only the impurity-driven luminescence sets it apart). Thus, chlorophane is firmly on the collector side of the spectrum, often sold as exotic specimens or used in museum demos of thermoluminescence.

Antozonite – “Stinkspar” (Radioactive Fluorite)

Identification: Antozonite is an unusual variety of fluorite that contains free elemental fluorine gas trapped in its structure. It is typically very dark purple to blackish-violet in color. When antozonite is cracked or crushed, it releases a pungent ozone-like odor (hence the nickname “stinkspar”) ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ) ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ). Physically, it usually occurs as massive or grainy fluorite, not well shaped crystals. It may be strongly radioactive due to uranium inclusions that caused the internal decomposition into fluorine gas over geologic time (Fluorine finally found in nature | Research - Chemistry World) (Antozonite (Stinkspar/Fluorite) Elemental Fluorine Source ...). Antozonite does not have distinctive fluorescence; often it’s weakly fluorescent or non-fluorescent due to the quenching by impurities.
Rarity: Rare. Only a few localities are known, mostly where fluorite is found with uranium or rare earths. It’s a mineralogical oddity.
Discovery: First identified in the Wölsendorf fluorite mines of Bavaria, Germany, in the 19th century. Miners there noticed the “smell” upon breaking certain dark fluorites. It was first found in 1841 at Wölsendorf and named Antozonite in 1862 (Antozonite - Wikipedia). The phenomenon was later understood (in 2012, scientists confirmed elemental F₂ in antozonite (Scientists Discover Elemental Fluorine in Nature | Geology - Sci.News)).
Notable Locations:

  • Germany: Wölsendorf Fluorite District (Bavaria) – the classic locality. Deep purple-black fluorite masses associated with uraninite. These yielded the type antozonite that led to the identification of elemental fluorine within (Antozonite - Wikipedia).
  • France: Margnac Mine, Haute-Vienne – a uranium mine that produced radioactive fluorite; some antozonite identified (dark violet fluorite with a smell when broken) (Fluorine finally found in nature | Research - Chemistry World).
  • Spain: Certain Asturias vein deposits produced “stink fluorspar” in minor amounts.
  • Kazakhstan: Some fluorite from Kara-Oba and other uranium-rich deposits shows antozonite character (very dark, smelly when crushed).
    Collector vs. Bulk: Antozonite is of scientific and collector interest only. It was never mined intentionally on a commercial scale – if anything, it was a undesirable variant in fluorite mines (the released fluorine gas is toxic and corrosive). Today, collectors of radioactive minerals or fluorite curiosities seek it out. Industrial fluorite operations typically discard or avoid heavily uranium-bearing fluorite due to safety, so antozonite has no industrial value. Its significance lies in being a natural source of elemental fluorine (a chemical marvel) and a historical curiosity. Collectors must handle it with care (for the odor and radioactivity), but small specimens are safe and intriguing.

Yttrofluorite & Yttrocerite (Rare Earth-Rich Fluorite)

Identification: These are varieties of fluorite enriched with rare-earth elements, notably yttrium and cerium, partially substituting for calcium in the crystal lattice ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ) ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ). Yttrofluorite contains appreciable trivalent yttrium (formula approx. (Ca,Y)F₂), while yttrocerite has both yttrium and cerium (approx. (Ca,Ce,Y)F₂) ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ) ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ). Visually, they are usually lavender, violet-blue, or gray in color (the presence of yttrium/cerium often yields a lavender or pale violet hue). They typically occur as massive or granular fluorite rather than distinct crystals, often found in rare-earth-rich pegmatites. No special fluorescence distinguishes them; they may fluoresce dull yellow or not at all.
Rarity: Rare (as a defined variety). While trace Y or Ce in fluorite is not uncommon, significant concentrations enough to term a specimen “yttrofluorite” are rare and found only in specific geological environments. Note: modern mineralogy no longer regards yttrofluorite/yttercerite as separate species (they are fluorite mineralogically), so these names are chiefly of historical interest.
Discovery: Yttrocerite was noted early in studies of rare earths. It was found in the late 1700s in Sweden (Ytterby mine) during the discovery of yttrium and cerium – researchers like Gadolin and Berzelius encountered a “fluorspar” containing these new elements (Yttrocerite - British & Exotic Mineralogy) (Yttrocerite - British & Exotic Mineralogy). The term yttrocerite appears in an 1820s chemistry context ( FOMS - Fluorite - Franklin Mineral Information ) ( FOMS - Fluorite - Franklin Mineral Information ). Yttrofluorite as a term came later, in studies of Norwegian rare-earth pegmatites in the 20th century. Essentially, these varieties have been “grandfathered” from 19th-century literature.
Notable Locations:

  • Sweden: Ytterby, near Stockholm – the famous mine where multiple rare elements (yttrium, cerium, etc.) were discovered. Yttrocerite was found as a reddish-purple fluorite in association with gadolinite and other rare minerals (Yttrocerite - British & Exotic Mineralogy) (Yttrocerite - British & Exotic Mineralogy). Finbo, Sweden (near Falun) also yielded yttrocerite as small purplish crusts in quartz (Yttrocerite - British & Exotic Mineralogy) (Yttrocerite - British & Exotic Mineralogy).
  • Norway: Hundholmen mine, Narvik – rare earth pegmatite where yttrofluorite was identified in the 1960s (Lanthanide and yttrium substitution in natural fluorite).
  • USA: Some granitic pegmatites (e.g. in Colorado or Maine) have fluorite with elevated Y, occasionally termed yttrofluorite (often light violet pieces found in pegmatite core zones).
  • Morocco: El Hammam Mine – reports of fluorite with unusual gray-purple color and high Y content (analyzed as yttrofluorite).
    Collector vs. Bulk: These REE-rich fluorites are mainly of academic interest. They are not mined for fluorine nor for rare earths (the REE content is too low to extract economically, and fluorite with too much Y/Ce is actually less desirable industrially). Collectors rarely specifically seek “yttrofluorite” unless interested in the historical type specimens or chemical curiosities. In mineral collections, a labeled “Yttrocerite – Ytterby” is a neat historical specimen. But overall, these varieties do not impact the fluorite trade either as specimen highlights or as industrial material. They highlight fluorite’s ability to accommodate unusual elements, bridging mineralogy and geochemistry more than commerce.

Bulk Commercial-Grade Fluorite Occurrences

Aside from the collectible varieties above, fluorite is an important industrial mineral. “Commercial-grade” fluorite (fluorspar) is usually graded by purity: metallurgical grade (~60-85% CaF₂) for steel flux, ceramic grade (~85-95% CaF₂), and acid grade (>97% CaF₂) for chemical feedstock. Such material is often mined from large deposits of massive fluorite or intergrown veins that may not produce showy crystals. Here we note major fluorite mining districts around the world and their significance:

  • China: The world’s leading fluorite producer, mining ~3 million tonnes annually (as of 2010) (Fluorite - Wikipedia). Major provinces include Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Inner Mongolia, and Guangxi, where huge stratiform or vein deposits are worked. Though most output is lower-grade for acid production, Chinese mines like Xianghui and Yongshan also yield pockets of fine crystals (many top collector fluorites in recent decades, in all colors, have come from Chinese localities in tandem with commercial mining).
  • Mexico: Long a top producer (~1.0 Mt/year) (Fluorite - Wikipedia). The Las Cuevas deposit in San Luis Potosí and Mina Muzquiz in Coahuila are large operations supplying steel and chemical industries. Mexico’s deposits often consist of massive granular fluorite in hues of purple, green, or yellow. Some, like Naica Mine (Chihuahua), famous for its giant selenite crystals, also contained substantial fluorite zones. Collectors have obtained beautiful purple cubes from Naica and yellow/amber crystals from Muzquiz – byproducts of commercial extraction.
  • South Africa: Home to the single largest fluorite reserves (estimated 41 Mt) (Fluorite - Wikipedia). The Witkop Mine in Free State was a major open-pit operation for decades. Most South African fluorite is bluish or white massive ore. Notably, recent finds like Riemvasmaak’s green crystals were a small, localized occurrence – unrelated to the large-scale mines. South Africa’s output goes largely to acid-grade fluorspar for export.
  • Mongolia and CIS: Mongolia (0.45 Mt/year) and Kazakhstan have extensive fluorite veins. These yield mainly commercial fluorite (e.g., Bayan Obo – primarily an iron-REE mine – produces fluorite as a minor product). Some collectible material (color-zoned cubes) came from Choir, Mongolia, but most is lump ore.
  • Namibia: Okorusu Mine was a significant producer of high-purity fluorite for acidspar. It became famous among collectors for the spectacular multi-colored cubic crystals it produced in pockets throughout the ore body. Thus Okorusu is a prime example of a mine serving both markets: most tonnage went to industry, while some pockets yielded green-purple zoned cubes up to 20 cm for collectors. The mine is now closed (as of late 2010s), but its legacy continues in museums.
  • United States (historical): The Illinois-Kentucky district was once the largest US source of fluorite, feeding steel mills and chemical plants mid-20th century. Now defunct, it left a legacy of great specimens (as described) but also environmental cleanup. Smaller US operations in New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona supplied steel industries regionally. Currently, the US imports fluorspar, and only minimal by-product fluorite (e.g., from limestone quarries) is produced domestically.
  • Other notable producers: Spain (used to produce in Asturias – now mostly closed, though Spain still yields some fluorite as byproduct of Zn mines), Kenya (Kerio Valley had a fluorite mine), Brazil (Santa Catarina, minor production), India (Rajasthan has some small fluorite mines), Pakistan (a couple of veins worked for local ceramics).

In summary, commercial fluorite mining is concentrated in a few countries with large deposits (China, Mexico, South Africa, Mongolia). These operations prioritize volume and purity – giant veins or breccia fillings of fluorite are blasted and processed, often yielding fairly homogenous, coarse material. On occasion, exceptional pockets in these mines add to collectors’ treasure troves, but generally the bulk material is lower grade, destined for chemical plants. The economic value of fluorite on the world stage lies in these bulk deposits, even as the “soul” of fluorite for many enthusiasts lies in the gorgeous crystals from classic localities.

Summary Table: Fluorite Occurrences by Country, Color, Rarity, and Discovery

Below is a summary of major and minor fluorite occurrences worldwide, highlighting each occurrence’s typical color, relative rarity of collectible material, year of discovery (if known/applicable), and notes on significance:

Country Occurrence (Variety) Typical Color(s) Rarity Discovery/First Described Significance
England (UK) Weardale, Durham (Rogerley Mine) – daylight fluorescent fluorite ([ 
Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures

](https://www.minerals.net/mineral/fluorite.aspx#:~:text=Fluorite%20occurs%20throughout%20the%20world%2C,Peters%20Mine)) | Green (daylight turns blue) ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ) | Uncommon (unique trait) | Mining since 19th c. (Rogerley rediscovered 1970s) | Collector-only (specimens highly valued) | | England (UK) | Derbyshire Blue John (banded variety) (Fabulous Fluorite: Derbyshire Blue John – Deposits) | Purple/Blue & Yellow banded ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ) | Rare (localized) | ~1700 (ornamental mining by eighteenth century) (Fabulous Fluorite: Derbyshire Blue John – Deposits) | Collector & lapidary (historic ornaments); no bulk use | | France | Mont Blanc Massif (Alpine clefts) – “rose fluorite” ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ) | Pink (octahedral) | Rare | Mont Blanc finds first noted XIX c.; major finds 1980s ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ) | Collector-only (Alpine specimen mining) | | France | Tarn (Le Burc, Mont-Roc) ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ) | Blue (cubic) | Uncommon | Known early 1900s | Collector (fine blue crystals) | | Germany | Wölsendorf, Bavaria (Antozonite) (Antozonite - Wikipedia) | Dark purple to black | Rare | 1841 (identified, named 1862) (Antozonite - Wikipedia) | No industrial value; scientific curiosity (F2-bearing) | | Spain | Asturias (Berbes, La Collada) ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ) | Purple; Yellow | Common (in past) | 1870s (mining began) | Once industrial (fluorspar); now collector (classic euhedral fluorites) | | China | Yaogangxian Mine, Hunan ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ) | Purple, green, clear (zoned) | Common (many pockets) | ~1980s (for specimens) | Both – major commercial producer & top collector locality | | China | De’An, Jiangxi (Shangrao) ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ) | Green to purple (zoned, botryoidal) | Uncommon | 2000s (discovery of “fluorite balls”) | Collector (distinct botryoidal habit) | | South Africa | Riemvasmaak, N. Cape ( Fluorite Gemstone Information – A Complete Buyer's Guide for Fluorite ) | Deep green (octahedral) | Uncommon (new find) | 2006 (approx., recent discovery) | Collector-only (small-scale mining for specimens) | | Namibia | Okorusu Mine | Green, purple (zoned cubes) | Common (locally) | 1920s (mining), specimens recognized 1980s | Dual: Industrial mine (acid-grade fluorspar) + prolific specimen source | | USA | Illinois–Kentucky District ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ) (Hardin Co., IL) | Purple, amber, zoned | Common (historically) | ~1835 (fluorite noted; mining by 1870s) | Both – once major world fluorspar source (Fluorite - Wikipedia) and renowned collector specimens | | USA | Elmwood Mine, Tennessee | Purple (cubes with sphalerite) | Uncommon (world-class quality) | 1969 (discovered during zinc mining) | Collector (by-product of sphalerite mining; top-tier specimens) | | USA | Clay Center, Ohio | Amber-orange (cubes) | Uncommon | 1870s (discovery) | Collector (small-scale; former chemical-grade source) | | Russia | Dalnegorsk, Primorsky Krai ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ) | Colorless, smoky, pale purple | Common (many finds) | 1960s (mine opened) | Both – polymetallic mine yielded tons of fluorite; exceptional clear crystals for collectors | | Russia | Siberia (Chita region) (Chlorophane type) | Dull violet (glows green when heated) (Fluorite - Wikipedia) | Rare | ~1820 (described in literature) | Collector/scientific (luminescent phenomenon) | | Switzerland | Göscheneralp, Uri ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ) | Pink (octahedral) | Rare | Fluorite noted early 1800s; pink find 1880s | Collector (alpine classic; very limited) | | Mexico | Naica, Chihuahua | Purple, clear, yellow | Common (in mine) | 1900 (mine), specimens known mid-20th c. | Both – large Pb-Zn mine (fluorite as gangue), many collector pieces recovered | | Mexico | Muzquiz, Coahuila | Yellow, purple | Common (regionally) | 1940s (major production) | Both – significant commercial fluorspar mine; source of cabochon-grade banded fluorite and specimens | | Kazakhstan | Kent Deposit (Karaganda) | Dark purple (possibly “stink-fluorite”) | Rare | 1960s (uranium prospect) | Mostly industrial (U ore byproduct); minor collector interest (radioactive fluorite) | | Sweden | Ytterby Mine (type Yttrocerite) | Violet to reddish-gray | Rare (historic) | 1787 (Arrhenius’s discovery of REE minerals) (Yttrium (Y) - The Chemical Elements) | Historic/scientific (source of REEs; fluorite of academic note only) | | Norway | Hundholmen, Narvik (Yttrofluorite) | Lilac-gray (massive) | Rare | 1960s (studied by geologists) (Lanthanide and yttrium substitution in natural fluorite) | Scientific; no commercial value |

Sources: Fluorite localities and properties from mineralogical literature ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ) ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ) ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ) ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ) ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ); fluorescence and variety definitions (Fluorite - Wikipedia) ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ) ( Fluorite: The mineral fluorite information and pictures ); historical notes from deposit summaries (Fabulous Fluorite: Derbyshire Blue John – Deposits) (Antozonite - Wikipedia) and mindat/Wikipedia entries (Fluorite - Wikipedia) (Antozonite - Wikipedia); production data from USGS and Wikipedia (Fluorite - Wikipedia).

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