Is it Amethyst or Purple Fluorite ?
Being a very popular mineral, it is common for people to think that all purple gemstones are Amethyst.
In fact, there are several other purple minerals used in jewelry including Charoite, Stichtite, purple jade, and tanzanite.
However, the gemstone that is most commonly mistaken for amethyst is purple fluorite.
Amethyst Crystals
Purple Fluorite Crystals
Let me help you distinguish between these two beautiful purple minerals.
Look for colour variations
Amethyst (see photo) - various shades of purple & white.
Purple Fluorite - can have multiple colours
Look at the colour transitions
Amethyst - known for having a dog tooth pattern with abrupt transitions
Purple Fluorite (see photo) - colour bands with smooth transitions
Check the Hardness
Amethyst (see photo) - harder - not easily scratched by other jewelry
Purple Fluorite - softer - easily scratched by other jewelry (store separately)
Introduce Water
(I wouldn’t try this one)
Amethyst - not effected
Purple Fluorite (see photo) - lightly soluble. Never submerge in water. Clean with a damp cloth instead.
Get out your UV light
Amethyst - no fluoresce
Purple Fluorite - may fluoresce (see photo - from The Fluorescent Mineral Society)
Both Amethyst and Fluorite (every colour) have a prominent spot in my mineral and jewelry collections. I can’t decide which I like better.
Which one of these attractive purple minerals do you prefer?
Amethyst (Left) & Purple Fluorite (Right)
In my next blog, I will be talking about ‘fools gold’ (pyrite) and it’s close cousin marcasite.
