Fluorescent Mineral Database

A new secret project! Trying to create a nice Fluorescent Mineral Database (FMDB), which would be searchable by mineral, locality, and luminescence properties. Also making it easy for people to contribute with their own specimens!

Pargasite and Diopside from New Jersey

Contributed by: Michael Crawford
Date: Jun 19th, 2025
Locality: Fowler Quarry (Nichol Quarry; B. Nicoll Quarry; Nicoll Quarry; Nicol Quarry; Cellate Quarry), Franklin Marble, Franklin, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA (See on Mindat)
Size: 11 x 19 cm

Description:
This specimen of green pargasite (NaCa2(Mg4Al)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2), gray diopside (CaMgSi2O6), white calcite and bronze pyrrhotite (Fe1-xS) is from the Fowler Quarry, Franklin, Sussex County, New Jersey. This specimen came out of the Franklin Marble. Pargasite fluoresces blue-green and the diopside fluoresces light blue in shortwave UV illumination. The calcite has a faint violet color in midwave UV light.

Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.
Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.
Normal light.
Normal light.
Shortwave Emission Spectra
Shortwave Emission Spectra

Summary of luminescence responses:

Pargasite

  • Fluorescence under Shortwave (255nm LED) UV light: Green
Diopside
  • Fluorescence under Shortwave (255nm LED) UV light: Blue
Calcite
  • Fluorescence under Midwave (305nm LED) UV light: Violet

FMDB Home Page
Submit a new specimen!
My Collection