FLUORESCENT MINERALS

Adamite

Adamite under SW-UV light

Origin: Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Mexico

Owner: Axel Emmermann

Sample size: about 3.5 mm across

 

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Aegirine

  

This specimen has abundant schefferite, which is a aegirine variety, and minor clinohedrite and willemite. Right photo under SW UV light.

Origin: Franklin, Sussex Co., New Jersey, U.S.A.

Ex. Frank Edwards collection

Sample size: 10.5 x 9 x 5.5 cm

 

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Apatite

Crystals up to 1 cm on a matrix covered with muscovite. The orange-yellow fluorescence is so fierce that even the dark coloured muscovite shows up on the photo. It is uncertain which activator is responsible for this fluorescence: Mn 2+ plus a co-activator or Dysprosium 3+. Stereo photo under short wave UV.

 Close-up of a water-clear crystal. The fluorescence is clearly strongest in the top face of the crystal. Stereo photo under short wave UV.

Origin: Gilgit Region, Pakistan

Owner: Axel Emmermann

 

Fluorapatite crystals up to a few millimetres on a dark matrix. This specimen shows a strong magenta-pink fluorescence. The activator is believed to be trivalent samarium. Stereo photo under short wave UV.

Origin: Huanzala, Huanuco dept., Peru

Owner: Axel Emmermann

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Apatite on quartz

Origin: Laghman, Afghanistan, Asia

Ex. Dan Balan collection

Sample size: 4.5 x 3.5 x 2.2 cm

 

  

 

     

Apatite on albite (right photo under UV light)

Origin: La Marina Mine, Pauna, Boyaca, Colombia, South America

Sample size: 6.7 x 4.3 x 2.2 cm (top), 10 x 6 x 3.3 cm (bottom row)

 

     

 

  

Apatite on albite (right photos under UV light)

     

Apatite on albite and calcite (middle/right photo under UV light)

Origin: La Marina Mine, Pauna, Boyaca, Colombia, South America

Sample size: 6.5 x 6.4 x 4.2 cm (top), 4 x 2.5 x 1.6 cm (2d row), 4.6 x 4.2 x 3.1 cm (bottom)

 

     

Apatite with calcite (right photo under UV light)

     

 

     

Apatite with albite (right photo under UV light)

Origin: La Marina Mine, Pauna, Boyaca, Colombia, South America

Sample size: 3.7 x 3.6 x 2.2 cm (top), 3.7 x 3.6 x 2.2 cm (2nd row), 9.2 x 3.3 x 1.3 cm (bottom)

 

     

 

  

 

     

Apatite with albite (middle/right photos under UV light)

Origin: La Marina Mine, Pauna, Boyaca, Colombia, South America

Sample size: 5.5 x 3.7 x 3 cm (top), 3.3 x 2.4 x 1.5 cm (2nd row), 9.2 x 7 x 4 cm (bottom)

 

 

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Aragonite

Green fluorescent aragonite on calcite under UV-light

Origin: Chihuahua, Mexico

Owner: Axel Emmermann

 

Aragonite on calcite under SW-UV light

Origin: Jemelle, Namur, Belgium

Owner: Axel Emmermann

 

     

These strontio-aragonite crystals fluoresce red quite strong under long wave UV. The cause of the fluorescence probably lies in crystal defects that are caused by partial replacement of Ca²⁺ by Sr²⁺. Stereo photo under 366 nm UV, long wave.

Under short wave UV, these strontio-aragonite crystals fluoresce pale yellow with a pink tint. Presumably the same mechanism as with the red fluorescence under LW is at work here. Photo under 254 nm short wave UV.

Origin: Bocchegiano, Toscane, Italie

Owner: Axel Emmermann

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This specimen is comprised of acicular crystals of aragonite. Under SW UV light the crystal fluoresce creamy white (right photo).

Origin: Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Sussex Co., New Jersey, U.S.A.

Ex. Frank Edwards collection

Sample size: 6.7 x 5.5 x 3.5 cm

 

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Autunite

  

Autunite under LW-UV light

Origin: Autun, France

Owner: Axel Emmermann

Sample size: crystals to 3 mm

 

The photograph on the left shows part of the specimen in which the central crystal displays a striking fluorescent growth-phantom in the shape of a butterfly. The photograph on the right shows a close-up (real photo, not a "zoom") of this remarkable crystal. Autunite fluoresces nearly always and is one of the strongest fluorescent minerals known.

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Barite

Barite with phantom fluorescence under UV light

Origin: unknown

Owner: Axel Emmermann

 

These platy crystals have a white crystalline crust that fluoresces strongly yellow-white to white under both long wave and short wave UV. Stereo photo taken under short wave UV.

Origin: La Cruz mine, Linares, Spain

Owner: Axel Emmermann

 

 Barite under SW-UV light

Origin: Villers-en-Fagne, Belgium

Owner: Axel Emmermann

 

Barite under LW-UV light, The fluorescence is possibly caused by inclusions of organic material or perhaps some fluorescing clay.

Origin: La Cruz mine, Linares, Spain

Owner: Axel Emmermann

 

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Barytocalcite

Barytocalcite (blue) in calcite (red) under SW-UV light

Origin: Langban, Sweden

Owner: Axel Emmermann

 

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Benitoite

  

Benitoite fluoresces light blue under SW-UV light

Origin: Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito Co., California, U.S.A.

Sample size: 7 x 5 cm

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Benitoite fluoresces light blue under SW-UV light

Origin: Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito Co., California, U.S.A.

Sample size: 8 x 4.3 cm (top), 9.5 x 4.5 cm (2nd/3rd row), 11.5 x 6 cm (4th row), 15 x 12 cm (5th row), 9 x 5.5 cm (6th row), 14.5 x 11.5 cm (7th row), 5 x 4 cm (8th row), 11 x 6 cm (9th row), 12 x 4 cm (10th row), 15 x 6 cm (bottom)

 

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Bustamite

  

This specimen is comprised of light pink bustamite with abundant clinohedrite and minor hardystonite (right and bottom photo under SW UV light).

  

This specimen is comprised of light pink bustamite with abundant clinohedrite and andradite and minor hardystonite. Right and bottom photos under SW UV light.

Origin: Franklin, Sussex Co., New Jersey, U.S.A.

Ex. Frank Edwards collection

Sample size: 8 x 4.5 x 3.4 cm (top/2nd row), 10 x 6 x 4.5 cm (3rd/bottom row)

 

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Calcite

Red-pink fluorescent calcite under UV light

Origin: Casapalca, Peru

Owner: Axel Emmermann

 

Light-pink fluorescent calcite under UV light

Origin: Mongolia

Owner: Axel Emmermann

 

Violet-red fluorescent calcite under UV light

Origin: Sardinia, Italy

Owner: Axel Emmermann

 

Origin: Santa Eulalia, Mexico

Owner: Richard Loyens

 

In this photo you are looking on the fractured side of a group of calcite crystals under short wave UV. Under daylight the crystals exhibit a dark brown color suggesting the presence of iron- or manganese-ions. It is well-known that the presence of iron in a crystal acts as a fluorescence-killer. However repeatedly during the growth of this group, the supply of iron seems to have been stopped. As a result, the crystals are made up of alternating layers of iron-containing and iron-free calcite. The iron containing areas of the crystals remain dark under UV-radiation whereas the iron-free areas show a strong fluorescence. Another possible explanation for this phenomenon is a zoning of the concentration of manganese in the crystals. To be effective as an activator in calcite, the concentration of manganese must be between well-defined limits. Within these limits manganese acts as an activator, outside of them it is as effective a quencher of fluorescence just as iron. If during de formation of this specimen the supply of manganese was irregular, only the areas of the crystals that have an optimal concentration of it will fluoresce.
 

1 to 2 cm long crystals of dogtooth calcite on earthy matrix under UV light

Origin: Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Owner: Axel Emmermann

 

Calcite under normal light, LW-UV and SW-UV light

Origin: Durango, Mexico

Owner: Axel Emmermann

 

When exposed to short wave UV, this specimen briefly exhibits the same pink fluorescence as under long wave UV before turning blue. The fluorescence is "delayed" for a very short time. FMS member Glenn Waychunas, a professional mineralogist, has proposed a hypothesis on that wherein UV energy is absorbed and stored in photochemical reactions involving cerium, which energy later is passed to europium to produce the delayed blue luminescence. The pink fluorescence seen under longwave UV appears to be an orange fluorescence activated by manganese, added to a weaker case of the blue phosphorescence. There is not yet enough evidence to establish this theory with any certainty. (Thanks to Doug Mitchell of the FMS for bringing this new theory to our attention)

 

These brown rhombic crystals show a tan fluorescence and strong greenish phosphorescence. Inclusion of organic matter probably causes the fluorescence. Stereo photo under short wave UV.

origin: Tarstinkal, Pas-de-Calais, France

Owner: Axel Emmermann

 

Flattened crystals with pyrite and tetrahedrite. The activator is Mn²⁺ with lead as co-activator. The concentration of manganese is visibly higher than in the “normal” red fluorescing calcites. The pink daylight colour is typical for this “manganoan calcite” that also fluoresces under long wave UV. Stereo photo under short wave UV.

Large rhombic crystals. Here also, the activator is divalent manganese. The ideal concentration of manganese as an activator lies at about 1%. More than enough to explain the pink daylight colour o f the specimen.

Origin: Pachapaqui, Peru

Owner: Axel Emmermann

 

Terlingua-type calcite. This blue fluorescence is actually phosphorescence. The energy of the 254 nm (short wave) UV is believed to be absorbed by cerium and then photochemically transferred to europium, which fluoresces blue. Since there is a visible delay at the start of the fluorescence (first pink, then blue) and a long lived phosphorescence, we should call this phosphorescence instead of fluorescence.

Under a somewhat shorter wavelenght of UV (350 nm peak) the pinkish fluorescence turns to an almost straw-yellow colour. This is probably caused by the blue fluorescence/phosphorescence that is starting to show. Removing the UV-source reveals a short-lived blue phosphorescence.

This is the typical fluorescence under 366 nm UV. The activator probably is manganese with some co-activator, most likely one or more of the rare earth elements. Photo was taken under a well-filtered blacklight (true blacklight with wood-glass mantle).

Origin: Santa Eulalia Mining district, Mexico

Owner: Axel Emmermann

 

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Manganoan calcite (under SW-UV light right photo)

Origin: Wessels Mine, Kalahari, South Africa

Sample size: 4.75 x 3 x 2.25 cm

 

        

A sharp, 1.7 cm rose-red rhodonite crystal in rhodonite and calcite matrix with scattered, green-black gahnite from the famous Sterling Hill Mine of New Jersey. The calcite fluoresces bright orange

Origin: Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, Sussex Co., New Jersey, U.S.A.

Ex. Dru Wilbur collection

Sample size: 9.2 x 5.3 x 4.3 cm

 

           

Franklinite in calcite (with orange fluorescence)

Origin: , Sussex County, New Jersey, U.S.A.

Ex. Marilyn Dodge collection

Sample size: 6.5 x 4.3 x 3.2 cm

 

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Rob Lavinsky

The Arkenstone

  

Duftite on calcite. The rhombic calcite crystals are brightly fluorescent orange under SW UV light.

Origin: Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Namibia

Sample size: 10.1 x 9.6 x 5.2 cm

 

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John Veevaert, Trinity Mineral Co

Trinityminerals.com

 

Celestine

              

Lustrous, white celestine crystals to 3.0 cm on limestone matrix. The crystals look hexagonal, but are in fact, parallel growth. They are FLUORESCENT and PHOSPHORESCENT! This undamaged piece was collected in the early 1980s by Henry Fisher from the Lime City Quarry and the locality is now closed. this very striking two-toned habit is unusual and was found only a few times around that period.

Origin: Lime City Quarry, Wood Co., Ohio, U.S.A.

Sample size: 11.5 x 9.5 x 6.0 cm

           

Celestine (fluorescent and phosphorescent)

Origin: Lime City Quarry, Wood Co., Ohio, U.S.A.

Sample size: 14.5 x 8.0 x 3.7 cm

 

        

Lustrous, white celestine crystals to 2.6 cm on limestone matrix. The crystals look hexagonal, but are in fact, parallel growth. They are WHITE FLUORESCENT and PHOSPHORESCENT! This very striking two-toned habit is unusual and was found only a few times in the late 70s and early 80s. New information indicates, that the colour variation is due to strontianite partially pseudomorphing the celestine crystals. The locality is now closed.

Origin: Lime City Quarry, Wood Co., Ohio, U.S.A.

Sample size: 9.5 x 8.0 x 4.2 cm

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Celestine, fluorescent under SW-UV light

Origin: Stoneco Quarry, Lime City , near Toledo, Ohio, U.S.A.

Sample size: 27.6 x 15.8 x 11.0 cm (top), 11 x 8.5 x 5.7 cm (2nd row), 10.8 x 10.5 x 7.8 cm (3rd row), 13.7 x 11.0 x 10.1 cm (bottom)

 

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Rob Lavinsky

The Arkenstone

 

Celsian

  

This specimen has masses of celsian and willemite. Calcite is also found on the rock. Right photo under SW UV light.

Origin: Franklin, Sussex Co., New Jersey, U.S.A.

Ex. Frank Edwards collection

Sample size: 12 x 8 x 5 cm

 

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Cerussite

  

Normal view / LW-UV

 

        

Origin: Touisit, Midelt, Morocco

Owner: Axel Emmermann

Cerussite under LW-UV light

 

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Clinohedrite

Esperite : yellow, clinohedrite : orange, hardystonite : blue, willemite : green and calcite: red and pink under SW-UV light

Origin: unknown

Owner: Axel Emmermann

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This specimen has numerous sharp and lustrous crystals of clinohedrite to 2 mm across. Under SW UV light the mineral fluoresces bright yellowish orange.

  

This specimen has abundant willemite, clinohedrite and minor hardystonite. Right photo under SW UV light.

  

This specimen has a lot of schefferite. Under SW UV light a host of other minerals are evident including clinohedrite, willemite and calcite. The black mineral is franklinite. Right photo under SW UV light.

  

This specimen lights up under a SW UV light source. The hardystonite and clinohedrite are brightly fluorescent. Ex. Gage Collection

Origin: Franklin, Sussex Co., New Jersey, U.S.A.
Ex. Frank Edwards Collection

Sample size: 2.7 x 2 x 1.2 cm (top/2nd row), 7.2 x 4.5 x 3.5 cm (3rd row), 7.2 x 6.5 x 3.2 cm (4th row), 8 x 6 x 4 cm (bottom)

 

  

This specimen has abundant willemite, clinohedrite and large grains of the pyroxene schefferite. Right photo under SW UV light

Origin: Franklin, Sussex Co., New Jersey, U.S.A.

Ex. Frank Edwards collection

Sample size: 10 x 8 x 5 cm

 

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Dumortierite

     

Elbaite

This specimen has some green coloured tourmaline at the top of the specimen and some pink tourmaline at the bottom and the sides. The green tourmaline doesn’t fluoresce but the pink variety does with a clear and solid blue but exclusively under short wave UV (stereo photo). The activator is still unknown. Tourmaline incorporates strange cations and thus possible activators quite easily.

Origin: Lagman, Afghanistan

Owner: Axel Emmermann

 

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Esperite

  

Esperite (green fluorescence) with franklinite

Origin: Franklin, Sussex County, New Jersey, U.S.A.

Sample size: 10 x 9 x 7.5 cm

 

        

Slab of nearly solid off-white esperite.

Origin: Franklin Mine, Sussex Co., New Jersey, U.S.A.

Ex. George Elling collection

Sample size: 8.4 x 5.6 x 1.7 cm

 

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Esperite : yellow, clinohedrite : orange, hardystonite : blue, willemite : green and calcite: red and pink under SW-UV light

Origin: unknown

Owner: Axel Emmermann

 

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Specimen of various Franklin minerals including: esperite (yellow), willemite (green), hardystonite (violet). Also present on this specimen are franklinite and zincite.

  

 

  

Esperite and willemite

Origin: Franklin, Sussex Co, New Jersey, U.S.A.

Sample size: 11 x 7 x 5.5 cm (top left), 9.5 x 5.5 x 1 cm (top right), 6.5 x 4.5 x 3.5 cm (2nd row), 6.5 x 4.7 x 3.9 cm (3rd row), 9 x 5 x 1 cm (bottom)

 

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Creamy white massive matrix of esperite which fluoresces bright canary yellow. Could not get this photo to come out yellow! It shows more of a green, but it is a bright yellow. Associated with red zincite and willemite (Fl green).

Origin: Franklin, Sussex Co., New Jersey, United States (type locality)

Ex. DeVito collection

Sample size: 4 x 3 x 1.5 cm

 

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Eucryptite

  

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Fluorite

Red fluorescent fluorite under SW-UV light

Origin: Sonora, Mexico

Owner: Axel Emmermann

 

Fluorite containg hydrocarbon fluid inclusions (yellow) under LW-UV

Origin: Cave in Rock, Illinois, U.S.A.

Owner: Axel Emmermann

 

The photo shows two octahedral cleavage fragments of fluorite that exhibit the normal blue fluorescence under LW-UV. The activator that causes the blue fluorescence of the fluorite probably is Europium, as usual. The hydrocarbon does not need an activator since substances like this are often fluorescent in nature

 

Yttrium-fluorite under SW-UV light

Origin: Hondholmen, Tysfjord, Norway

Owner: Axel Emmermann

 

The green colour of this specimen is true fluorescence. It must not be mistaken for the greenish reflection that is seen when minerals that contain yttrium are illuminated with an unfiltered mercury-vapor lamp.

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Genthelvite

Genthelvite fluoresces bright green under SW-UV light

Origin: Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada

Sample size: 1.6 x 1.2 x 1 cm

 

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Gypsum

Gypsum under LW-UV light

Origin: unknown

Owner: Richard Loyens

 

A small amount of calcium is often replaced by strontium in Gypsum. This causes the mineral to fluoresce white or greenish white in many cases.

 

Gypsum under LW-UV light

Origin: Winnepeg, Manitoba, Canada

Owner: Axel Emmermann

The fluorescence is probably caused by crystal defects due to the partial replacement of Ca by Sr in a 200:1 ratio. The fluorescent hourglass is most likely the result of strontium atoms having a greater affinity for two opposing faces during crystal growth. The crystal defects are thus stacked in a pyramidal form following the growth of those two faces. Stereo photo under short wave UV.

Origin: Le Forest, France

Owner: Axel Emmermann

 

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Halite

Halite under SW-UV light

Origin: Heringen, Werra, Hessen, Germany

Owner: Axel Emmermann

Sample size: crystals to 5 cm

 

The strong red fluorescence is most probably caused by the presence of manganese and lead, analogous to the activation mechanisms in most red fluorescing calcite. However, defects in the crystal lattice of halite are known to cause fluorescence too. Without a chemical analysis we cannot be certain about the true mechanism of this quite enthusiastic luminescence.

 

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Hancockite

  

Hardystonite

Esperite : yellow, clinohedrite : orange, hardystonite : blue, willemite : green and calcite: red and pink under SW-UV light

Origin: unknown

Owner: Axel Emmermann

 

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Origin: Franklin, Sussex County, New Jersey, U.S.A.

Sample size: 13 x 11 x 7 cm

 

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Johnbaumite

        

Karpatite

     

Karpatite with cinnabar on siliceous jasperoid matrix with drusy quartz

Origin: Los Picachos, nr. Picacho Peak, San Benito County, California, U.S.A.

Sample size: 9.3 x 4.5 x 3.5 cm

 

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Leucophanite

  

 

  

Origin: Langesundfiord district, Norway

Sample size: 2.3 x 2.2 x 1.2 cm wedge of massive leucophanite (top), 3.3 x 1.5 x 1 cm wedge of massive leucophanite (bottom). Under SW UV light the specimen glows pinkish

 

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