We use cookies to show content based on your preferences. If you continue to browse you accept their use and installation. More information. >


FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board
The place to share your mineralogical experiences


Spanish message board






Newest topics and users posts
17 Mar-03:46:51 Re: libyan desert glass structure (Roger Warin)
16 Mar-16:10:57 Silver crystals from morocco / mvm (minerals - virtual museum) collection (Jordi Fabre)
16 Mar-13:28:08 A point of view - it's tucson time again - 2025 (Jordi Fabre)
16 Mar-06:39:34 Re: the mim museum in beirut, lebanon (Mim Museum)
16 Mar-03:23:23 Re: location of this amethyst? (Indigo08)
16 Mar-01:07:05 March 15 & 16 - nautilus ghent mineral & fossil show (in gent, belgium) (Herwig)
15 Mar-17:07:39 Re: collection of firmo espinar (Firmo Espinar)
15 Mar-16:43:38 The mizunaka collection - kunzite (Am Mizunaka)
15 Mar-15:16:55 Mvm (minerals - virtual museum) collection / sphalerite from Áliva with geometric banding (Jordi Fabre)
15 Mar-14:52:27 Re: location of this amethyst? (Jordi Fabre)
15 Mar-13:02:55 Re: location of this amethyst? (James Catmur)
15 Mar-11:35:54 Location of this amethyst? (Indigo08)
14 Mar-12:47:09 Re: libyan desert glass structure (Craig Hagstrom)
14 Mar-05:05:59 Collection of carles millan: anapaite from catalonia (Carles Millan)
14 Mar-02:39:47 Re: collection of michael shaw (Tobi)
13 Mar-18:41:11 Re: collection of michael shaw (Michael Shaw)
13 Mar-17:57:00 Mvm (minerals - virtual museum) collection / sphalerite from Áliva mine, spain (Jordi Fabre)
13 Mar-09:52:25 Re: collection of michael shaw (Tobi)
12 Mar-18:22:09 Mvm (minerals - virtual museum) collection / proustite on calcite from morocco (Jordi Fabre)
12 Mar-15:40:38 The mizunaka collection - beryl (Am Mizunaka)
12 Mar-08:19:24 Re: collection of michael shaw - pyromorphite (Michael Shaw)
11 Mar-15:05:11 Mvm (minerals - virtual museum) collection / sperrylite with cabriite (Jordi Fabre)
11 Mar-11:19:34 Re: port mulgrage field trip for pyrite specimens (James Catmur)
11 Mar-11:02:23 Treatments, synthetics and simulants: fluorite (Cascaillou)
11 Mar-08:11:51 Re: port mulgrage field trip for pyrite specimens (Bob Morgan)

For lists of newest topics and postings click here


RSS RSS

View unanswered posts

Why and how to register

Index Index
 FAQFAQ RegisterRegister  Log inLog in
 {Forgotten your password?}Forgotten your password?  

Like
118974


The time now is Mar 17, 2025 08:59

Search for a textSearch for a text   

A general guide for using the Forum with some rules and tips
The information provided within this Forum about localities is only given to allow reference to them. Any visit to any of the localities requires you to obtain full permission and relevant information prior to your visit. FMF is strictly against any illicit activities related to collecting minerals.
Treatments, Synthetics and Simulants: FLUORITE
  
  Index -> Incorrect classification and fakes
Like
1


View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message

cascaillou




Joined: 27 Nov 2011
Posts: 262

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Mar 11, 2025 11:02    Post subject: Treatments, Synthetics and Simulants: FLUORITE  

A brief overview of what would be possible with fluorite:

TREATMENTS:

As for any mineral specimens, one might consider the possibility of specimen repairs or even fabrications (i.e. crystals glued on non-original matrix), as well as surface polishing, acid etching, or even carving of the crystals (as an example, those carved fluorite "loops", let's also mention that those loose fluorite octahedrons often seen for sale are obtained by cleavage).

As for any commercially successful stone, one might consider the possibility of surface coatings or fracture filling with either colorless or coloured materials such as dyes, varnish, oils, or polymer resin (with the purpose of improving luster and transparency and/or of improving or modifying the color).

Such treatments can be detected.

Now, in regard of heat and irradiation treatments of fluorite:
-Lightening the color through gentle heating (for instance excessively dark blue to lighter blue, or purple to a more pink shade). Excessive heating would turn the fluorite colorless (which would then be reversible by irradiation).
-Creating a kind of red from heating some blue fluorites (this was reported but unconfirmed).
-Darkening the color through irradiation (for instance light blue to stronger blue).
-Creating blue or other colors from colorless/near colorless fluorite through irradiation (obtained color as well as the stability of the color in time will depend on starting material).

Heat treatment and irradiation treatment are impossible to prove or disprove, even with lab analysis (although in a case of overheating, maybe microscopic examination of solid and fluid inclusions could possibly reveal it?)

SYNTHETICS:

Synthetic fluorite is being produced, and it can be produced in various colors (either through dopants, or through subsequent irradiation treatment).

Synthetic fluorite is mostly grown for optical applications, and this is usually done through Czochralski pulling, Bridgman-Stockbarger, and gradient solidification methods, which are melt processes yielding cylindrical crystals (thus not looking anything like natural fluorite crystals). Although, it would still be possible to obtain an octahedron through cleavage, or to cut a cube (and then make it appear a bit more natural by carving or acid etching its surface).

SIMULANTS:

There would be a variety of possible imitations for massive and banded fluorite (i.e. plastic and resins, glass and ceramics, dyed aragonite/calcite/marble, dyed alabaster, dyed quartzite, dyed quartz, etc.).
Visually, massive fluorite could possibly be confused with massive amethyst or apatite.
Visually again, artificial salt, alum, or chrome-alum crystals could vaguely imitate fluorite crystals (note that these compounds are water soluble and have taste).
Faceted/cabbed fluorite could possibly be imitated with plastic, glass, ceramics, glass-ceramics, or synthetic lithium fluoride.
For faceted or cabbed stones, as always, composite stones (i.e. doublets or triplets) are also a possibility.
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
1
   
Display posts from previous:   
   Index -> Incorrect classification and fakes   All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1
    

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum


All pictures, text, design © Forum FMF 2006-2025


Powered by FMF