Four Color Specimen from Koashva Mountain, Russia

Contributed by: Michael Crawford
Date: Aug 30th, 2025
Locality: Koashva Mt, Khibiny Massif, Murmansk Oblast, Russia (See on Mindat)
Size: 4 x 6 cm

Description:
This is a small four-color fluorescent specimen. It contains pectolite, red villiaumite, microcline, sodalite, and black aegirine. The specimen is from Koashva Mt., Khibiny Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmansk Oblast, Russia.

The four fluorescent minerals are:
Villiaumite (NaF) (red-LW, orange-MW, dark orange-SW)
Pectolite (NaCa2Si3O8(OH)) (yellow-brown-LW, purple-MW, dark purple-SW)
Sodalite (Na4(Si3Al3)O12Cl) (orange-LW & MW, red-SW)
Microcline (K(AlSi3O8)) (red-SW)

The fluorescence is weak and requires long exposures to capture images. The longwave fluorescence of the sodalite and shortwave fluorescence of the microcline are brighter than the other minerals. There was not enough brightness to measure emission spectra of villiaumite and pectolite.

Fluorescence under longwave UV light.

Fluorescence under midwave UV light.

Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.

Normal light.

Emission Spectra

Summary of luminescence responses:

Villiaumite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

• Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Red
• Fluorescence under Midwave (305nm LED) UV light: Orange

• Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Orange
• Fluorescence under Midwave (305nm LED) UV light: Violet
• Fluorescence under Shortwave (255nm LED) UV light: Purple

• Fluorescence under Shortwave (255nm LED) UV light: Red

• Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Orange
• Fluorescence under Shortwave (255nm LED) UV light: Red