Braldu Fluorite is a very rare, bright green gemstone from the Braldu Valley in northern Pakistan, a premiere source for fine quality Fluorite. Some of the most beautiful Fluorite available, Braldu Fluorite is highly coveted.
Hardness 4
Refractive Index 1.434
Relative Density 3.00 - 3.25
Enhancement None
Beauty
Named for its locale, Braldu Fluorite’s very rare, bright apple to toffee apple greens and attractive glassy luster define its distinctive beauty. The major value determinants for Braldu Fluorite are color and cutting quality. Of all of Fluorite’s bright, rich colors, Braldu Fluorite’s striking greens are highly desirable.
Due to its hardness and perfect octahedral (four-sided) cleavage, Braldu Fluorite is a challenging gemstone to facet and polish. Optimal lapidary with an eye-clean clarity, the highest quality clarity grade for colored gemstones, is the secret to unlocking the beauty of Braldu Fluorite. Extremely limited in this quality, Braldu Fluorite’s key quality considerations are even bright greens, good brilliance, and an attractive luster.
Some Braldu Fluorite will exhibit blue or purple fluorescence under longwave ultraviolet light. Many experts believe the color of fluorescence depends on where the Fluorite was mined.
Another one of Fluorite’s popular colors is a deep purple that can rival Amethyst. In fact, Fluorite/Amethyst comparisons are often used to demonstrate that color alone is not an effective means of gemological species determination. Fluorite can also display distinctive bi-color and multi-color banding. The ‘Blue John’ variety mined in England has curved bands of blue, purple, yellow and white, and has been used as an ornamental gemstone since Roman times. Color Change Fluorite typically changes from green to purple in sunlight (candescent light) and candlelight (incandescent light).
Between 250 and 100 million years ago, Fluorite was formed from hydrothermal solutions (hot water and melted minerals) that filled underground fissures as pegmatites (intrusive igneous rocks composed of interlocking crystals) were created. Among collectors, Fluorite and Quartz remain the most popular minerals. Gem-quality specimens will understandably garner higher prices than those favored by mineral collectors.
Fluorite’s name is derived from the Latin ‘fluere’, meaning to flow, in reference to its low melting point. Coming in a huge array of colors, Fluorite is known as the ‘world’s most colorful gemstone’. Fluorite crosses the entire spectrum of colors, from Amethyst purples to crimson reds, Paraíba blues to emerald greens, and bright oranges to lemon yellows. Fluorite, from which we get the word ‘fluorescent’, is the most famous fluorescent gemstone. Many specimens strongly fluoresce in a great range of colors under longwave ultraviolet light.
Rarity
While Fluorite is found in many countries, Brazil, China, India, Madagascar, and Pakistan are the premiere gem-quality sources. Displaying an exceedingly rare color with an excellent clarity, Braldu Fluorite is from a deposit near the village of Apo Ali Gun in the Braldu Valley (Skardu District) of Baltistan in northern Pakistan. This deposit was first reported in 2006.
Only recently faceted for a larger market, Braldu Fluorite’s attractive colors command higher prices due to their comparative rarity. Braldu Fluorite is one of the few gemstones that is entirely natural and not enhanced.
Durability & Care
Braldu Fluorite (Mohs’ Hardness: 4) should be worn and stored carefully to avoid scuffs and scratches. Clean with gentle soap and lukewarm water, scrubbing behind the gem with a very soft toothbrush as necessary. After cleaning, pat dry with a soft towel or chamois cloth.
Map Location
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