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!

Variscite from Lucin, Box Elder County, Utah

Contributed by: Michael Crawford
Date: Jul 16th, 2025
Locality: Lucin, Box Elder County, Utah, USA (See on Mindat)
Size: 9 x 12.5 cm

Description:
A slab containing green variscite (AlPO4 · 2H2O) from Lucin, Box Elder County, Utah. The variscite has modest green fluorescence under shortwave UV illumination due to uranyl activation. The emission spectrum is rather noisy due to low level of fluorescence, but it clearly shows a vibronic signature characteristic of uranyl activation.

There is also a white, fluorescent mineral. The identity of this mineral is unknown. The emission spectrum has a broad peak at 467 nm and another peak in the ultraviolet region at 356 nm.

The radioactivity is around 125 CPM.

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

Summary of luminescence responses:

Variscite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

  • Fluorescence under Shortwave (255nm LED) UV light: Green
(Mindat) (RRUFF)
  • Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Blue

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