Purple Fluorite vs Amethyst: What Is The Difference?

In this article: Discover the features and characteristics of Purple Fluorite vs Amethyst!

What is the difference between these two crystals: Purple Fluorite vs Amethyst? They are two beautiful purple crystals that look very similar.

Even though Purple Fluorite and Amethyst can be confused based on appearance, these two gemstones are very different.

If you have one of these two crystals and can’t tell the difference between them, read on to discover what they are, their properties, and how to tell them apart. 

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Purple Fluorite vs Amethyst: The main differences

The easiest way to know the main differences between these two crystals is to compare them. Below, you’ll find the physical properties and healing properties of both stones and find out what makes them different:

Physical Properties	Purple Fluorite	Amethyst
Color	Purple (different shades)	Purple (different shades)
Location	China, South Africa, Russia, USA	Brazil, Uruguay, Canada, Madagascar
Rarity	Common	Common
Mineral Class	Halide	Silicate
MOH Hardness	4	7
Crystal System	Isometric	Hexagonal
Formula	CaF2	SiO₂
Luster	Vitreous	Vitreous
Specific Gravity	3.2	2.6 to 2.7

Healing Properties	Purple Fluorite	Amethyst
Physical Properties	Strengthens teeth and bones	Helps fight addictions
Emotional Properties	Helps with focus and concentration	Releases stress and anxiety
Metaphysical Properties	Connects with spirit guides	Opens intuition
Zodiac Sign	Pisces, Capricorn	Virgo, Saggitarius, Aquarius
Birthstone	Not a birthstone	February
Chakra	Crown, Third Eye	Crown, Third Eye
Planet	Mercury	Jupiter
Element	Wind	Air, Water
Number	7, 9	3

What is Purple Fluorite?

Purple Fluorite is a calcium and fluorine based crystal of the Halides family. It’s a highly sought-after crystal that is especially popular among crystal healers.

The ancient Chinese valued Purple Fluorite for its beauty and its ability to protect from bad dreams. 

More commonly found as perfectly formed cubes, Purple Fluorite comes in different shades of purple ranging from lavender to violet. 

With a mosh hardness of only 4, Purple Fluorite is fairly soft and has a tendency to fade with exposure to light. You should also avoid putting it in water for a long period of time.

Purple Fluorite should definitely not be used for making and drinking gem elixirs. 

This beautiful gemstone can be found in many different countries including China, South Africa, Russia, and the USA. It is often found with deposits of galena, sphalerite, and cobalt. 

Fluorite also occurs in other colors such as green, pink, or yellow. The color variations are caused by various impurities which, when hit with light, produce the color we see. 

Purple Fluorite healing properties

Purple Fluorite is a powerful stone that encourages focus and concentration. Strongly connected to the Crown and Third Eye chakras, Purple Fluorite is often used to enhance communication with spirit guides and connect to higher realms. 

The beautiful purple crystal will also help you expand your intellect by stimulating the mind centers.

Purple Fluorite can also encourage you to learn new things, challenge your view of reality and help you let go of your preconceived ideas. 

Carrying or wearing Purple Fluorite can help you overcome negative patterns of behavior and see new possibilities. Purple Fluorite is a stone that stimulates the mind.

Wear it when you study, take a test, go to an interview, or attend negotiations to help you focus and concentrate on your tasks. 

If you suffer from stress and anxiety, Purple Fluorite will help you heal and release negative thoughts.

This stone also has the ability to help you understand the reason for your fears and give you the courage to be more truthful to yourself and others. 

As a dream crystal, Purple Fluorite protects you from nightmares during your sleep. Place it under your pillow to prevent bad dreams and sleep paralysis. 

Physically, Purple Fluorite is often used to ease headaches and stimulate the immune system.

This beautiful crystal also strengthens the teeth and bones, making it particularly useful for reducing pain and inflammation associated with arthritis and rheumatism.

Finally, you can use Purple Fluorite to assist with dizziness and vertigo issues. 

What is Amethyst? 

Amethyst is a silicon dioxide crystal with traces of iron. It is a type of quartz that belongs to the Silicates family. Amethyst is by far one of the most popular crystals in the mineral world.

It is often used in jewelry, but also for home decor or crystal healing. 

Its name comes from the Greek word ‘amethystos’, meaning ‘not intoxicate’ because the ancient Greeks believed it had the ability to protect from drunkenness.

This is also one of the reasons why today it is used to fight addictions. 

Commonly found in many sizes and shapes, Amethyst occurs in different shades of purple ranging from pale lilac to dark purple. 

With a mosh hardness of only 7, Amethyst is fairly hard. It has a tendency to fade with exposure to light. However, it is a crystal that is safe to put in water. 

This beautiful gemstone can be found worldwide including in Brazil, Uruguay, Canada, India, and Madagascar.

It is often found with other types of quartz crystals such as Clear Quartz, Smoky Quartz, or Citrine. 

Amethyst healing properties

Amethyst is a protective stone that is often used to relieve stress, anger, and irritability. It brings calmness and is especially useful in times of confusion or crisis. 

Another great benefit of Amethyst is that it facilitates the decision-making process, helping you see things for what they really are.

It helps you let go of what no longer serves you, encouraging change and transition.

As an ally for the psychic, Amethyst is a great stone for spiritual seekers who want to overcome blockages of all kinds.

By connecting to the Crown chakra, Amethyst promotes spiritual awareness and opens intuition. It also stimulates psychic powers, assisting in past life recall and encouraging spiritual awakening.  

This purple gem can also help relieve insomnia and assist in remembering dreams, making it one of the best crystals to keep in your bedroom.

Amethyst connects to the mind, promoting good memory and motivation. 

On a physical level, Amethyst is said to boost the immune system, encouraging cell regeneration. It balances the hormones and the metabolism, helping you cut down on stress and tension. 

As mentioned before, it is often used to prevent drunkenness and overcome addictions such as food, sex, or drugs. It is also said to block geopathic stress and electromagnetic fields emitted by our devices.

If you suffer from headaches and migraines, you can place Amethyst on your forehead to help release the tension. 

Purple Fluorite vs Amethyst: Which is better? 

Even though they look pretty similar, crystal lovers know that Purple Fluorite and Amethyst are two very different crystals. 

Because they both have the same color, they activate the same chakras (Crown and Third Eye). Purple Fluorite and Amethyst are powerful protective crystals that can be used to encourage spiritual awareness and connect to higher realms. 

They both stimulate the mind, helping you focus on your tasks and concentrate. Also, it is important to know that they are compatible so you can actually use them together.

For example, you could keep them both in your bedroom to prevent bad dreams or insomnia and encourage restful sleep. 

They are both very common, affordable crystals that are great for beginners. However, Amethyst is probably best if you are just starting out as it is one of the most popular gemstones in the crystal world.

The big difference between the two is the hardness, one is softer than the other which means you should not store them together.

Purple Fluorite is relatively soft, which means it’s not the best to be worn as crystal jewelry or carried in your pockets. It can scratch, break or dent easily. 

Also, Amethyst can be cleansed with water, but Purple Fluorite can’t. You cannot use Purple Fluorite to make gem elixirs, but Amethyst is perfectly fine.

To be honest, it is impossible to tell which is better because everyone reacts differently to crystals and their vibrations. Some will prefer Amethyst, others will feel more connected to Purple Fluorite. 

I can only recommend you go to a metaphysical store, hold the crystals in your hands and see how you feel.

If you don’t have a shop near you, go online and browse different shops and crystals until you find the piece that attracts you the most. 

How to tell the difference between Purple Fluorite vs Amethyst? 

Purple Fluorite and Amethyst look really similar by their color, which makes it difficult to figure out which is which. Here are some tips on how to tell the difference between the two: 

Hardness test

If you can’t tell Purple Fluorite and Amethyst apart, the easiest way to know which one you have is to perform a hardness test.

This means you are testing the resistance of a crystal by scratching it with the point of an object of known hardness.

It could be a knife blade (hardness 5 to 6.5), your fingernail (hardness 2 to 2.5), a steel file (hardness 5 to 6.5), or even a quartz crystal (hardness 7).

The test can be easily done from home. First, find a clean, scratch-free surface on your specimen.

Hold the specimen firmly in one hand and scratch it with the point of objects of known hardness mentioned above.

If the crystal scratches, it is Purple Fluorite. If it doesn’t, it is Amethyst.

Shape and look

If you have a raw specimen in front of you, the best way to tell if it is Amethyst or Purple Fluorite is to look at the crystal shape. Purple Fluorite forms cubic crystals and has a vitreous luster.

Amethyst has conchoidal fracture faces and a hexagonal crystal shape. Basically, Fluorite has a lot of right angles, and Amethyst forms hexagonal points (similar to Clear Quartz).

Another thing you can do is place your raw specimen in the light. It is relatively easy to see through Purple Fluorite, but Amethyst is usually more opaque.

If you have a polished specimen, Purple Fluorite can appear purple with bands of different colors such as white, light pink, or even green.

Amethyst spheres are just purple but can have white bands if they are Chevron Amethyst. 

Bottom line

Purple Fluorite and Amethyst are two beautiful crystals you should definitely consider adding to your collection.

Even though it can be difficult to tell them apart, they still have some main differences that make them both interesting. 

Amethyst is one of the most popular gemstones in the mineral world, while Purple Fluorite is a little less known. They have similar properties and can definitely be used together. 

If you have a specimen and don’t know what it is, the best way to know is to perform a hardness test. You can easily do it at home by carefully scratching your crystal with a knife blade. 

Purple Fluorite vs Amethyst, which one is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!